第十七回至十八回

第十七回至十八回 大观园试才题对额 荣国府归省庆元宵

话说秦钟既死，宝玉痛哭不已，李贵等好容易劝解半日方住，归时犹是凄恻哀痛。贾母帮了几十两银子，外又另备奠仪，宝玉去吊纸[2]。七日后便送殡掩埋了，别无述记。只有宝玉日日思慕感悼，然亦无可如何了。

又不知历几何时，这日贾珍等来回贾政：“园内工程俱已告竣，大老爷已瞧过了，只等老爷瞧了〔二〕，或有不妥之处，再行改造，好题匾额对联的。”贾政听了，沉思一会，说道：“这匾额对联倒是一件难事。论理该请贵妃赐题才是，然贵妃若不亲睹其景，大约亦必不肯妄拟；若直待贵妃游幸[4]过再请题，偌大[5]景致，若干亭榭，无字标题，也觉寥落无趣，任有花柳山水，也断不能生色。”众清客在旁笑答道：“老世翁所见极是。如今我们有个愚见：各处匾额对联断不可少，亦断不可定名。如今且按其景致，或两字、三字、四字，虚合其意，拟了出来，暂且做灯匾联悬了。待贵妃游幸时，再请定名，岂不两全？”贾政等听了，都道：“所见不差。我们今日且看看去，只管题了，若妥当便用；不妥时，然后将雨村请来，令他再拟。”众人笑道：“老爷今日一拟定佳，何必又待雨村。”贾政笑道：“你们不知，我自幼于花鸟山水题咏上就平平；如今上了年纪，且案牍劳烦，于这怡情悦性文章上更生疏了。纵拟了出来，不免迂腐古板，反不能使花柳园亭生色，似不妥协，反没意思。”众清客笑道：“这也无妨。我们大家看了公拟，各举其长，优则存之，劣则删之，未为不可。”贾政道：“此论极是。且喜今日天气和暖，大家去逛逛。”说着起身，引众人前往。

贾珍先去园中知会众人。可巧近日宝玉因思念秦钟，忧戚不尽，贾母常命人带他到园中来戏耍。此时亦才进去，忽见贾珍走来，向他笑道：“你还不出去，老爷就来了。”宝玉听了，带着奶娘小厮们，一溜烟就出园来。方转过弯，顶头贾政引众客来了，躲之不及，只得一边站了。贾政近因闻得塾掌称赞宝玉专能对对联，虽不喜读书，偏倒有些歪才情似的，今日偶然撞见这机会，便命他跟来。宝玉只得随往，尚不知何意。

贾政刚至园门前，只见贾珍带领许多执事人来，一旁侍立。贾政道：“你且把园门都关上，我们先瞧了外面再进去。”贾珍听说，命人将门关了。贾政先秉正[6]看门。只见正门五间，上面桶瓦泥鳅脊[7]；那门栏窗槅，皆是细雕新鲜花样，并无朱粉涂饰；一色水磨群墙[8]，下面白石台矶，凿成西番草花样[9]。左右一望，皆雪白粉墙，下面虎皮石，随势砌去，果然不落富丽俗套，自是欢喜。遂命开门，只见迎面一带翠嶂挡在前面。众清客都道：“好山，好山！”贾政道：“非此一山，一进来园中所有之景悉入目中，则有何趣。”众人道：“极是。非胸中大有邱壑[10]，焉想及此。”说毕，往前一望，见白石崚嶒[11]，或如鬼怪，或如猛兽，纵横拱立，上面苔藓成斑，藤萝掩映，其中微露羊肠小径。贾政道：“我们就从此小径游去，回来由那一边出去，方可遍览。”

说毕，命贾珍在前引导，自己扶了宝玉，逶迤进入山口。抬头忽见山上有镜面白石一块，正是迎面留题处。贾政回头笑道：“诸公请看，此处题以何名方妙？”众人听说，也有说该题“叠翠”二字，也有说该题“锦嶂”的，又有说“赛香炉[12]”的，又有说“小终南[13]”的，种种名色，不止几十个。

原来众客心中早知贾政要试宝玉的功业进益如何，只将些俗套来敷衍。宝玉亦料定此意。贾政听了，便回头命宝玉拟来。宝玉道：“尝闻古人有云：‘编新不如述旧，刻古终胜雕今。’况此处并非主山正景，原无可题之处，不过是探景一进步耳。莫若直书‘曲径通幽处’[14]这句旧诗在上，倒还大方气派。”众人听了，都赞道：“是极！二世兄天分高，才情远，不似我们读腐了书的。”贾政笑道：“不可谬奖。他年小，不过以一知充十用，取笑罢了。再俟选拟。”

说着，进入石洞来。只见佳木茏葱，奇花灼，一带清流，从花木深处曲折泻于石隙之下。再进数步，渐向北边，平坦宽豁，两边飞楼插空，雕甍[15]绣槛，皆隐于山坳树杪[16]之间。俯而视之，则清溪泻雪，石磴穿云，白石为栏，环抱池沿，石桥三港[17]，兽面衔吐[18]。桥上有亭。贾政与诸人上了亭子，倚栏坐了，因问：“诸公以何题此？”诸人都道：“当日欧阳公《醉翁亭记》[19]有云：‘有亭翼然’，就名‘翼然’。”贾政笑道：“‘翼然’虽佳，但此亭压水而成，还须偏于水题方称。依我拙裁，欧阳公之‘泻出于两峰之间’，竟用他这一个‘泻’字。”有一客道：“是极，是极。竟是‘泻玉’二字妙。”贾政拈髯寻思，因抬头见宝玉侍侧，便笑命他也拟一个来。

宝玉听说，连忙回道：“老爷方才所议已是。但是如今追究了去，似乎当日欧阳公题酿泉用一‘泻’字则妥，今日此泉若亦用‘泻’字，则觉不妥。况此处虽云省亲驻跸别墅，亦当入于应制[20]之例，用此等字眼，亦觉粗陋不雅。求再拟较此蕴藉[21]含蓄者。”贾政笑道：“诸公听此论若何？方才众人编新，你又说不如述古；如今我们述古，你又说粗陋不妥。你且说你的来我听。”宝玉道：“有用‘泻玉’二字，则莫若‘沁芳’二字，岂不新雅？”贾政拈髯点头不语。众人都忙迎合，赞宝玉才情不凡。贾政道：“匾上二字容易。再作一副七言对联来。”宝玉听说，立于亭上，四顾一望，便机上心来，乃念道：

绕堤柳借三篙翠，隔岸花分一脉香。[22]

贾政听了，点头微笑。众人先称赞不已。

于是出亭过池，一山一石，一花一木，莫不着意观览。忽抬头看见前面一带粉垣，里面数楹[23]修舍，有千百竿翠竹遮映。众人都道：“好个所在！”于是大家进入，只见入门便是曲折游廊，阶下石子漫成甬路。上面小小两三间房舍，一明两暗，里面都是合着地步[24]打就的床几椅案。从里间房内又得一小门，出去则是后院，有大株梨花兼着芭蕉。又有两间小小退步[25]。后院墙下忽开一隙，得泉一派，开沟仅尺许，灌入墙内，绕阶缘屋至前院，盘旋竹下而出。贾政笑道：“这一处还罢了。若能月夜坐此窗下读书，不枉虚生一世。”说毕，看着宝玉，唬的宝玉忙垂了头。

众客忙用话开释，又说道：“此处的匾该题四个字。”贾政笑问：“那四字？”一个道是“淇水遗风”[26]。贾政道：“俗。”又一个是“睢园雅迹”[27]。贾政道：“也俗。”贾珍笑道：“还是宝兄弟拟一个来。”贾政道：“他未曾作，先要议论人家的好歹，可见就是个轻薄人。”众客道：“议论的极是，其奈他何。”贾政忙道：“休如此纵了他。”因命他道：“今日任你狂为乱道，先设议论来，然后方许你作。方才众人说的，可有使得的？”宝玉见问，答道：“都似不妥。”贾政冷笑道：“怎么不妥？”宝玉道：“这是第一处行幸之处，必须颂圣方可。若用四字的匾，又有古人现成的，何必再作。”贾政道：“难道‘淇水’‘睢园’不是古人的？”宝玉道：“这太板腐了。莫若‘有凤来仪’[28]四字。”众人都哄然叫妙。贾政点头道：“畜生，畜生，可谓‘管窥蠡测’[29]矣。”因命：“再题一联来。”宝玉便念道：

宝鼎茶闲烟尚绿，幽窗棋罢指犹凉。[30]

贾政摇头说道：“也未见长。”说毕，引众人出来。

方欲走时，忽又想起一事来，因问贾珍道：“这些院落房宇并几案桌椅都算有了，还有那些帐幔帘子并陈设玩器古董，可也都是一处一处合式配就的？”贾珍回道：“那陈设的东西早已添了许多，自然临期合式陈设。帐幔帘子，昨日听见琏兄弟说，还不全。那原是一起工程之时就画了各处的图样，量准尺寸，就打发人办去的。想必昨日得了一半。”贾政听了，便知此事不是贾珍的首尾[31]，便命人去唤贾琏。

一时，贾琏〔三〕赶来，贾政问他共有几种，现今得了几种，尚欠几种。贾琏见问，忙向靴桶取靴掖[33]内〔四〕装的一个纸折略节来，看了一看，回道：“妆蟒绣堆[35]、刻丝弹墨并各色绸绫大小幔子一百二十架，昨日得了八十架，下欠四十架。帘子二百挂，昨日俱得了。外有猩猩毡帘二百挂，金丝藤红漆竹帘二百挂，墨漆竹帘二百挂，五彩线络盘花帘二百挂，每样得了一半，也不过秋天都全了。椅搭、桌围、床裙、桌套，每分一千二百件，也有了。”

一面走，一面说，倏尔[36]青山斜阻。转过山怀中，隐隐露出一带黄泥筑就矮墙，墙头皆用稻茎掩护。有几百株杏花，如喷火蒸霞一般。里面数楹茅屋。外面却是桑、榆、槿、柘，各色树稚新条，随其曲折，编就两溜青篱。篱外山坡之下，有一土井，旁有桔槔辘轳[37]之属。下面分畦列亩，佳蔬菜花，漫然无际。

贾政笑道：“倒是此处有些道理。固然系人力穿凿，此时一见，未免勾引起我归农之意。我们且进去歇息歇息。”说毕，方欲进篱门去，忽见路旁有一石碣，亦为留题之备。众人笑道：“更妙，更妙！此处若悬匾待题，则田舍家风一洗尽矣。立此一碣，又觉生色许多，非范石湖田家之咏[38]不足以尽其妙。”贾政道：“诸公请题。”众人道：“方才世兄有云，‘编新不如述旧’，此处古人已道尽矣，莫若直书‘杏花村’[39]妙极。”贾政听了，笑向贾珍道：“正亏提醒了我。此处都妙极，只是还少一个酒幌[40]。明日竟作一个，不必华丽，就依外面村庄的式样作来，用竹竿挑在树梢。”贾珍答应了，又回道：“此处竟还不可养别的雀鸟，只是买些鹅鸭鸡类，才都相称了。”贾政与众人都道：“更妙。”贾政又向众人道：“‘杏花村’固佳，只是犯了正名[41]，村名直待请名方可。”众客都道：“是呀。如今虚的，便是什么字样好？”

大家想着，宝玉却等不得了，也不等贾政的命，便说道：“旧诗有云：‘红杏梢头挂酒旗’[42]。如今莫若‘杏帘在望’四字。”众人都道：“好个‘在望’！又暗合‘杏花村’意。”宝玉冷笑道：“村名若用‘杏花’二字，则俗陋不堪了。又有古人诗云：‘柴门临水稻花香’[43]，何不就用‘稻香村’的妙？”众人听了，亦发哄声拍手道：“妙！”贾政一声断喝：“无知的业障！你能知道几个古人〔五〕，能记得几首熟诗，也敢在老先生前卖弄！你方才那些胡说的，不过是试你的清浊，取笑而已，你就认真了！”

说着，引人步入茆堂[45]，里面纸窗木榻，富贵气象一洗皆尽。贾政心中自是欢喜，却瞅宝玉道，“此处如何？”众人见问，都忙悄悄的推宝玉，教他说好。宝玉不听人言，便应声道：“不及‘有凤来仪’多矣。”贾政听了道：“无知的蠢物！你只知朱楼画栋、恶赖[46]富丽为佳，那里知道这清幽气象。终是不读书之过！”宝玉忙答道：“老爷教训的固是，但古人常云‘天然’二字，不知何意？”

众人见宝玉牛心〔六〕[48]，都怪他呆痴不改。今见问“天然”二字，众人忙道：“别的都明白，为何连‘天然’不知？‘天然’者，天之自然而有，非人力之所成也。”宝玉道：“却又来！此处置一田庄，分明见得人力穿凿扭捏而成。远无邻村，近不负郭[49]，背山山无脉，临水水无源，高无隐寺之塔，下无通市之桥，峭然孤出，似非大观。争似先处有自然之理，得自然之气，虽种竹引泉，亦不伤于穿凿。古人云‘天然图画’四字，正畏非其地而强为地，非其山而强为山，虽百般精而终不相宜……”未及说完，贾政气的喝命：“叉出去！”刚出去，又喝命：“回来！”命：“再题一联，若不通，一并打嘴！”宝玉只得念道：

新涨绿添浣葛处，好云香护采芹人。[50]

贾政听了，摇头说：“更不好。”一面引人出来，转过山坡，穿花度柳，抚石依泉，过了荼架，再入木香棚，越牡丹亭，度芍药圃，入蔷薇院，出芭蕉坞，盘旋曲折。忽闻水声潺湲，泻出石洞，上则萝薜倒垂，下则落花浮荡。众人都道：“好景，好景！”贾政道：“诸公题以何名？”众人道：“再不必拟了，恰恰乎是‘武陵源’三个字。”贾政笑道：“又落实了，而且陈旧。”众人笑道：“不然就用‘秦人旧舍’[51]四字也罢了。”宝玉道：“这越发过露了。‘秦人旧舍’说避乱之意，如何使得？莫若‘蓼汀花溆’[52]四字。”贾政听了，更批胡说。

于是要进港洞时，又想起有船无船。贾珍道：“采莲船共四只，座船一只，如今尚未造成。”贾政笑道：“可惜不得入了。”贾珍道：“从山〔七〕上盘道亦可以进去。”说毕，在前导引，大家攀藤抚树过去。只见水上落花愈多，其水愈清，溶溶荡荡，曲折萦迂。池边两行垂柳，杂着桃杏，遮天蔽日，真无一些尘土。忽见柳阴中又露出一个折带朱栏板桥来，度过桥去，诸路可通，便见一所清凉瓦舍，一色水磨砖墙，清瓦花堵。那大主山所分之脉，皆穿墙而过。

贾政道：“此处这所房子，无味的很。”因而步入门时，忽迎面突出插天的大玲珑山石来，四面群绕各式石块，竟把里面所有房屋悉皆遮住，而且一株花木也无。只见许多异草：或有牵藤的，或有引蔓的，或垂山巅，或穿石隙，甚至垂檐绕柱，萦砌盘阶，或如翠带飘飘，或如金绳盘屈，或实若丹砂，或花如金桂，味芬气馥，非花香之可比。贾政不禁笑道〔八〕：“有趣！只是不大认识。”有的说：“是薜荔藤萝。”贾政道：“薜荔藤萝不得如此异香。”宝玉道：“果然不是。这些之中也有藤萝薜荔。那香的是杜若蘅芜，那一种大约是兰，这一种大约是清葛，那一种是金草，这一种是玉蕗藤，红的自然是紫芸，绿的定是青芷。想来《离骚》、《文选》[55]等书上所有的那些异草，也有叫作什么藿姜荨的，也有叫作什么纶组紫绛的，还有石帆、水松、扶留等样，又有叫什么绿荑的，还有什么丹椒、芜、风连。如今年深岁改，人不能识，故皆像形夺名，渐渐的唤差了，也是有的。”未及说完，贾政喝道：“谁问你来！”唬的宝玉倒退，不敢再说。

贾政因见两边俱是抄手游廊，便顺着游廊步入。只见上面五间清厦连着卷棚[56]，四面出廊，绿窗油壁，更比前几处清雅不同。贾政叹道：“此轩中煮茶操琴，亦不必再焚名香矣。此造已出意外，诸公必有佳作新题以颜其额[57]，方不负此。”众人笑道：“再莫若‘兰风蕙露’贴切了。”贾政道：“也只好用这四字。其联若何？”一人道：“我倒想了一对，大家批削改正。”念道是：

麝兰芳霭斜阳院，杜若香飘明月洲。

众人道：“妙则妙矣，只是‘斜阳’二字不妥。”那人道：“古人诗云‘蘼芜满手〔九〕泣斜晖’[59]。”众人道：“颓丧，颓丧。”又一人道：“我也有一联，诸公评阅评阅。”因念道：

三径[60]香风飘玉蕙，一庭明月照金兰。

贾政拈髯沉吟，意欲也题一联。忽抬头见宝玉在旁不敢则声，因喝道：“怎么你应说话时又不说了？还要等人请教你不成！”宝玉听说，便回道：“此处并没有什么‘兰麝’、‘明月’、‘洲渚’之类，若要这样着迹说起来，就题二百联也不能完。”贾政道：“谁按着你的头，叫你必定说这些字样呢？”宝玉道：“如此说，匾上则莫若‘蘅芷清芬’四字。”对联则是：

吟成荳蔻才犹艳〔一〇〕，睡足荼梦也香。[62]

贾政笑道：“这是套的‘书成蕉叶文犹绿’，不足为奇。”众客道：“李太白‘凤凰台’之作，全套‘黄鹤楼’[63]，只要套得妙。如今细评起来，方才这一联，竟比‘书成蕉叶’犹觉幽娴活泼。视‘书成’之句，竟似套此而来。”贾政笑说：“岂有此理！”

说着，大家出来。行不多远，则见崇阁巍峨，层楼高起，面面琳宫[64]合抱，迢迢复道[65]萦纡，青松拂檐，玉栏绕砌，金辉兽面，彩焕螭头[66]。贾政道：“这是正殿了，只是太富丽了些。”众人都道：“要如此方是。虽然贵妃崇节尚俭，天性恶繁悦朴，然今日之尊，礼仪如此，不为过也。”一面说，一面走，只见正面现出一座玉石牌坊来，上面龙蟠螭护，玲珑凿就。贾政道：“此处书以何文？”众人道：“必是‘蓬莱仙境’方妙。”贾政摇头不语。

宝玉见了这个所在，心中忽有所动，寻思起来，倒像那里曾见过的一般，却一时想不起那年月日的事了。贾政又命他作题，宝玉只顾细思前景，全无心于此了。众人不知其意，只当他受了这半日的折磨，精神耗散，才尽词穷了；再要考难逼迫，着了急，或生出事来，倒不便。遂忙都劝贾政：“罢，罢，明日再题罢了。”贾政心中也怕贾母不放心，遂冷笑道：“你这畜生，也竟有不能之时了。也罢，限你一日，明日若再不能，我定不饶。这是要紧一处，更要好生作来！”

说着，引人出来，再一观望，原来自进门起，所行至此，才游了十之五六。又值人来回，有雨村处遣人回话。贾政笑道：“此数处不能游了。虽如此，到底从那一边出去，纵不能细观，也可稍览。”说着，引客行来，至一大桥前，见水如晶帘一般奔入。原来这桥便是通外河之闸，引泉而入者。贾政因问：“此闸何名？”宝玉道：“此乃沁芳泉之正源，就名‘沁芳闸’。”贾政道：“胡说，偏不用‘沁芳’二字。”

于是一路行来，或清堂茅舍，或堆石为垣，或编花为牖，或山下得幽尼佛寺，或林中藏女道丹房[67]，或长廊曲洞，或方厦圆亭，贾政皆不及进去。因说半日腿酸，未尝歇息，忽又见前面又露出一所院落来，贾政笑道：“到此可要进去歇息歇息了。”说着，一径引人绕着碧桃花，穿过一层竹篱花障编就的月洞门，俄见粉墙环护，绿柳周垂。贾政与众人进去。

一入门，两边都是游廊相接。院中点衬几块山石，一边种着数本芭蕉；那一边乃是一颗西府海棠[68]，其势若伞，丝垂翠缕，葩吐丹砂。众人赞道：“好花，好花！从来也见过许多海棠，那里有这样妙的。”贾政道：“这叫作‘女儿棠’，乃是外国之种。俗传系出‘女儿国’中，云彼国此种最盛，亦荒唐不经之说罢了。”众人笑道：“然虽不经，如何此名传久了？”宝玉道：“大约骚人咏士，以此花之色红晕若施脂，轻弱似扶病，大近乎闺阁风度，所以以‘女儿’命名。想因被世间俗恶听了，他便以野史纂入为证，以俗传俗，以讹传讹，都认真了。”众人都摇身赞妙。

一面说话，一面都在廊外抱厦下打就的榻上坐了。贾政因问：“想几个什么新鲜字来题此？”一客道：“‘蕉鹤’二字最妙。”又一个道：“‘崇光泛彩’[69]方妙。”贾政与众人都道：“好个‘崇光泛彩’！”宝玉也道：“妙极。”又叹：“只是可惜了。”众人问：“如何可惜？”宝玉道：“此处蕉棠两植，其意暗蓄‘红’‘绿’二字在内。若只说蕉，则棠无着落；若只说棠，蕉亦无着落。固有蕉无棠不可，有棠无蕉更不可。”贾政道：“依你如何？”宝玉道：“依我，题‘红香绿玉’[70]四字，方两全其妙。”贾政摇头道：“不好，不好！”

说着，引人进入房内。只见这几间房内收拾的与别处不同，竟分不出间隔来的。原来四面皆是雕空玲珑木板，或“流云百蝠”[71]，或“岁寒三友”[72]，或山水人物，或翎毛花卉，或集锦[73]，或

博古[74]，或卍卍 [75]。各种花样，皆是名手雕镂，五彩销金嵌宝的。一槅一槅，或有贮书处，或有设鼎处，或安置笔砚处，或供花设瓶、安放盆景处。其槅各式各样，或天圆地方，或葵花蕉叶，或连环半璧。真是花团锦簇，剔透玲珑。倏尔五色纱糊就，竟系小窗；倏尔彩绫轻覆，竟系幽户。且满墙满壁，皆系随依古董玩器之形抠成的槽子。诸如琴、剑、悬瓶、桌屏之类，虽悬于壁，却都是与壁相平的。众人都赞：“好精致想头！难为怎么想来！”

原来贾政等走了进来，未进两层，便都迷了旧路，左瞧也有门可通，右瞧又有窗暂隔，及到了跟前，又被一架书挡住。回头再走，又有窗纱明透，门径可行；及至门前，忽见迎面也进来了一群人，都与自己形相一样，——却是一架玻璃大镜相照。及转过镜去，益发见门子多了。贾珍笑道：“老爷随我来。从这门出去，便是后院，从后院出去，倒比先近了。”说着，又转了两层纱橱锦槅，果得一门出去，院中满架蔷薇、宝相〔一一〕。转过花障，则见青溪前阻。众人诧异：“这股水又是从何而来？”贾珍遥指道：“原从那闸起流至那洞口，从东北山坳里引到那村庄里，又开一道岔口，引到西南上，共总流到这里，仍旧合在一处，从那墙下出去。”众人听了，都道：“神妙之极！”说着，忽见大山阻路。众人都道：“迷了路了。”贾珍笑道：“随我来。”仍在前导引，众人随他，直由山脚边忽一转，便是平坦宽阔大路，豁然大门前见。众人都道：“有趣，有趣，真搜神夺巧之至！”于是大家出来。

那宝玉一心只记挂着里边，又不见贾政吩咐，少不得跟到书房。贾政忽想起他来，方喝道：“你还不去？难道还逛不足！也不想逛了这半日，老太太必悬挂着。快进去，疼你也白疼了。”宝玉听说，方退了出来。

至院外，就有跟贾政的几个小厮上来拦腰抱住，都说：“今儿亏我们，老爷才喜欢，老太太打发人出来问了几遍，都亏我们回说喜欢；不然，若老太太叫你进去，就不得展才了。人人都说，你才那些诗比世人的都强。今儿得了这样的彩头[77]，该赏我们了。”宝玉笑道：“每人一吊钱。”众人道：“谁没见那一吊钱！把这荷包赏了罢。”说着，一个上来解荷包，那一个就解扇囊，不容分说，将宝玉所佩之物尽行解去。又道：“好生送上去罢。”一个抱了起来，几个围绕，送至贾母二门前。那时贾母已命人看了几次。众奶娘丫鬟跟上来，见过贾母，知不曾难为着他，心中自是欢喜。

少时袭人倒了茶来，见身边佩物一件无存，因笑道：“带的东西又是那起没脸的东西们解了去了。”林黛玉听说，走来瞧瞧，果然一件无存，因向宝玉道：“我给的那个荷包也给他们了？你明儿再想我的东西，可不能够了！”说毕，赌气回房，将前日宝玉所烦他作的那个香袋儿——才做了一半——赌气拿过来就铰。宝玉见他生气，便知不妥，忙赶过来，早剪破了。

宝玉已见过这香囊，虽尚未完，却十分精巧，费了许多工夫。今见无故剪了，却也可气。因忙把衣领解了，从里面红袄襟上将黛玉所给的那荷包解了下来，递与黛玉瞧道：“你瞧瞧，这是什么！我那一回把你的东西给人了？”林黛玉见他如此珍重，带在里面，可知是怕人拿去之意，因此又自悔莽撞，未见皂白，就剪了香袋。因此又愧又气，低头一言不发。宝玉道：“你也不用剪，我知道你是懒待给我东西。我连这荷包奉还，何如？”说着，掷向他怀中便走。黛玉见如此，越发气起来，声咽气堵，又汪汪的滚下泪来，拿起荷包来又剪。宝玉见他如此，忙回身抢住，笑道：“好妹妹，饶了他罢！”黛玉将剪子一摔，拭泪说道：“你不用同我好一阵歹一阵的，要恼，就撂开手。这当了[78]什么！”说着，赌气上床，面向里倒下拭泪。禁不住宝玉上来“妹妹”长“妹妹”短赔不是。

前面贾母一片声找宝玉。众奶娘丫鬟们忙回说：“在林姑娘房里呢。”贾母听说道：“好，好，好！让他姊妹们一处顽顽罢。才他老子拘了他这半天，让他开心一会子罢。只别叫他们拌嘴，不许扭了〔一二〕他。”众人答应着。黛玉被宝玉缠不过，只得起来道：“你的意思不叫我安生，我就离了你。”说着往外就走。宝玉笑道：“你到那里，我跟到那里。”一面仍拿起荷包来带上。黛玉伸手抢道：“你说不要了，这会子又带上，我也替你怪臊的！”说着，“嗤”的一声又笑了。宝玉道：“好妹妹，明儿另替我作个香袋儿罢。”黛玉道：“那也只瞧我高兴罢了。”一面说，一面二人出房，到王夫人上房中去了，可巧宝钗亦在那里。

此时王夫人那边热闹非常。原来贾蔷已从姑苏采买了十二个女孩子——并聘了教习——以及行头等事来了。那时薛姨妈另迁于东北上一所幽静房舍居住，将梨香院早已腾挪出来，另行修理了，就令教习在此教演女戏。又另派家中旧有曾演学过歌唱的女人们——如今皆已皤然[80]老妪了，着他们带领管理。就令贾蔷总理其日用出入银钱等事，以及诸凡大小所需之物料帐目。

又有林之孝家的来回〔一三〕：“采访聘买得十个小尼姑、小道姑都有了，连新作的二十分道袍也有了。外有一个带发修行的，本是苏州人氏，祖上也是读书仕宦之家。因生了这位姑娘自小多病，买了许多替身儿[82]皆不中用，足的[83]这位姑娘〔一四〕亲自入了空门，方才好了，所以带发修行，今年才十八岁，法名妙玉。如今父母俱已亡故，身边只有两个老嬷嬷、一个小丫头服侍。文墨也极通，经文也不用学了，模样儿又极好。因听见‘长安’都中有观音遗迹并贝叶遗文[85]，去岁随了师父上来，现在西门外牟尼院住着。他师父极精演先天神数[86]，于去冬圆寂[87]了。妙玉本欲扶灵回乡的，他师父临寂遗言，说他‘衣食起居不宜回乡，在此静居，后来自然有你的结果’。所以他竟未回乡。”王夫人不等回完，便说：“既这样，我们何不接了他来。”林之孝家的〔一五〕回道：“接他，他说‘侯门公府，必以贵势压人，我再不去的。’”王夫人笑道：“他既是官宦小姐，自然骄傲些，就下个帖子请他何妨。”林之孝家的答应了出去，命书启相公写请帖去请妙玉。次日遣人备车轿去接等后话，暂且搁过，此时不能表白。

当下又有人回，工程上等着糊东西的纱绫，请凤姐去开楼拣纱绫；又有人来回，请凤姐开库，收金银器皿。连王夫人并上房丫鬟等众，皆一时不得闲的。宝钗便说：“咱们别在这里碍手碍脚，找探丫头去。”说着，同宝玉黛玉往迎春等房中来闲顽，无话。

王夫人等日日忙乱，直到十月将尽，幸皆全备：各处监管都交清帐目；各处古董文玩，皆已陈设齐备；采办鸟雀的，自仙鹤、孔雀以及鹿、兔、鸡、鹅等类，悉已买全，交于园中各处像景饲养；贾蔷那边也演出二十出杂戏来；小尼姑、道姑也都学会了念几卷经咒〔一六〕。贾政方略心意宽畅，又请贾母等进园，色色斟酌，点缀妥当，再无一些遗漏不当之处了。于是贾政方择日题本[90]。本上之日，奉朱批准奏：次年正月十五上元之日，恩准贾妃省亲。贾府领了此恩旨，益发昼夜不闲，年也不曾好生过的。

展眼元宵在迩，自正月初八日，就有太监出来先看方向：何处更衣，何处燕坐[91]，何处受礼，何处开宴，何处退息。又有巡察地方总理关防太监等，带了许多小太监出来，各处关防，挡围幙；指示贾宅人员何处退，何处跪，何处进膳，何处启事，种种仪注不一。外面又有工部官员并五城兵备道打扫街道，撵逐闲人。贾赦等督率匠人扎花灯烟火之类，至十四日，俱已停妥。这一夜，上下通不曾睡。

至十五日五鼓，自贾母等有爵者，皆按品服大妆。园内各处，帐舞蟠龙，帘飞彩凤，金银焕彩，珠宝争辉，鼎焚百合之香，瓶插长春之蕊，静悄无人咳嗽。贾赦等在西街门外，贾母等在荣府大门外。街头巷口，俱系围幙挡严。正等的不耐烦，忽一太监坐大马而来，贾母忙接入，问其消息。太监道：“早多着呢！未初刻用过晚膳，未正二刻还到宝灵宫拜佛，酉初刻进大明宫领宴看灯方请旨，只怕戌初才起身呢。”凤姐听了道：“既这么着，老太太、太太且请回房，等是时候再来也不迟。”于是贾母等暂且自便，园中悉赖凤姐照理。又命执事人带领太监们去吃酒饭。

一时传人一担一担的挑进蜡烛来，各处点灯。方点完时，忽听外边马跑之声。一时，有十来个太监都喘吁吁跑来拍手儿。这些太监会意，都知道是“来了，来了”，各按方向站住。贾赦领合族子侄在西街门外，贾母领合族女眷在大门外迎接。

半日静悄悄的。忽见一对红衣太监骑马缓缓的走来，至西街门下了马，将马赶出围幙之外，便垂手面西站住。半日又是一对，亦是如此。少时便来了十来对，方闻得隐隐细乐之声。一对对龙旌凤翣，雉羽夔头[92]，又有销金提炉焚着御香；然后一把曲柄七凤黄金伞过来，便是冠袍带履。又有值事太监捧着香珠、绣帕、漱盂、拂尘等类。一队队过完，后面方是八个太监抬着一顶金顶金黄绣凤版舆，缓缓行来。贾母等连忙路旁跪下。早飞跑过几个太监来，扶起贾母、邢夫人、王夫人来。那版舆抬进大门，入仪门往东去，到一所院落门前，有执拂太监跪请下舆更衣。于是抬舆入门，太监等散去，只有昭容、彩嫔等引领元春下舆。只见院内各色花灯烂灼，皆系纱绫扎成，精致非常。上面有一匾灯，写着“体仁沐德”四字。元春入室，更衣毕复出，上舆进园。只见园中香烟缭绕，花彩缤纷，处处灯光相映，时时细乐声喧，说不尽这太平气象，富贵风流。

——此时自己回想当初在大荒山中，青埂峰下，那等凄凉寂寞；若不亏癞僧、跛道二人携来到此，又安能得见这般世面。本欲作一篇《灯月赋》、《省亲颂》，以志今日之事，但又恐入了别书的俗套。按此时之景，即作一赋一赞，也不能形容得尽其妙；即不作赋赞，其豪华富丽，观者诸公亦可想而知矣。所以倒是省了这工夫纸墨，且说正经的为是。

且说贾妃在轿内看此园内外如此豪华，因默默叹息奢华过费。忽又见执拂太监跪请登舟，贾妃乃下舆。只见清流一带，势如游龙，两边石栏上，皆系水晶玻璃各色风灯，点的如银花雪浪；上面柳杏诸树虽无花叶，然皆用通草[93]绸绫纸绢依势作成，粘于枝上的，每一株悬灯数盏；更兼池中荷荇凫鹭之属，亦皆系螺蚌羽毛之类作就的。诸灯上下争辉，真系玻璃世界，珠宝乾坤。船上亦系各种精致盆景诸灯，珠帘绣幙，桂楫兰桡[94]，自不必说。已而入一石港，港上一面匾灯，明现着“蓼汀花溆”四字。

按此四字并“有凤来仪”等处，皆系上回贾政偶然一试宝玉之课艺才情耳，何今日认真用此匾联？况贾政世代诗书，来往诸客屏侍座陪者，悉皆才技之流，岂无一名手题撰，竟用小儿一戏之辞苟且搪塞？真似暴发新荣之家，滥使银钱，一味抹油涂朱，毕则大书“前门绿柳垂金锁，后户青山列锦屏”之类，则以为大雅可观，岂《石头记》中通部所表之宁荣贾府所为哉！据此论之，竟大相矛盾了。诸公不知，待蠢物将原委说明，大家方知。

当日这贾妃未入宫时，自幼亦系贾母教养。后来添了宝玉，贾妃乃长姊，宝玉为弱弟，贾妃之心上念母年将迈〔一七〕，始得此弟，是以怜爱宝玉，与诸弟待之不同。且同随祖母，刻未暂离。那宝玉未入学堂之先，三四岁时，已得贾妃手引口传，教授了几本书、数千字在腹内了。其名分虽系姊弟，其情状有如母子。自入宫后，时时带信出来与父母说：“千万好生扶养，不严不能成器，过严恐生不虞，且致父母之忧。”眷念切爱之心，刻未能忘。前日贾政闻塾师背后赞宝玉偏才尽有，贾政未信，适巧遇园已落成，令其题撰，聊一试其情思之清浊。其所拟之匾联虽非妙句，在幼童为之，亦或可取。即另使名公大笔为之，固不费难，然想来倒不如这本家风味有趣。更使贾妃见之，知系其爱弟所为，亦或不负其素日切望之意。因有这段原委，故此竟用了宝玉所题之联额。那日虽未曾题完，后来亦曾补拟。

闲文少述，且说贾妃看了四字，笑道：“‘花溆’二字便妥，何必‘蓼汀’？”侍座太监听了，忙下小舟登岸，飞传与贾政。贾政听了，即忙移换。

一时，舟临内岸，复弃舟上舆，便见琳宫绰约[96]，桂殿巍峨。石牌坊上明显“天仙宝境”四字，贾妃忙命换“省亲别墅”四字。于是进入行宫[97]。但见庭燎[98]烧空，香屑布地，火树琪花[99]，金窗玉槛。说不尽帘卷虾须，毯铺鱼獭[100]，鼎飘麝脑之香，屏列雉尾之扇。真是：

金门玉户神仙府，桂殿兰宫妃子家。

贾妃乃问：“此殿何无匾额？”随侍太监跪启曰：“此系正殿，外臣未敢擅拟。”贾妃点头不语。礼仪太监跪请升座受礼，两陛乐起。礼仪太监二人引贾赦、贾政等于月台[101]下排班，殿上昭容传谕曰：“免。”太监引贾赦等退出。又有太监引荣国太君及女眷等自东阶升月台上排班，昭容再传谕曰：“免。”于是引退。

茶已三献，贾妃降座，乐止。退入侧殿更衣，方备省亲车驾出园。至贾母正室，欲行家礼，贾母等俱跪止不迭。贾妃满眼垂泪，方彼此上前厮见，一手搀贾母，一手搀王夫人，三个人满心里皆有许多话，只是俱说不出，只管呜咽对泣。邢夫人、李纨、王熙凤、迎、探、惜三姊妹等，俱在旁围绕，垂泪无言。

半日，贾妃方忍悲强笑，安慰贾母、王夫人道：“当日既送我到那不得见人的去处，好容易今日回家娘儿们一会，不说说笑笑，反倒哭起来。一会子我去了，又不知多早晚才来！”说到这句，不禁又哽咽起来。邢夫人等忙上来解劝。贾母等让贾妃归座，又逐次一一见过，又不免哭泣一番。然后东西两府掌家执事人丁在厅外行礼，及两府掌家执事媳妇领丫鬟等行礼毕。贾妃因问：“薛姨妈、宝钗、黛玉因何不见？”王夫人启曰：“外眷无职，未敢擅入。”贾妃听了，忙命快请。一时，薛姨妈等进来，欲行国礼，亦命免过，上前各叙阔别寒温。又有贾妃原带进宫去的丫鬟抱琴等上来叩见，贾母等连忙扶起，命人别室款待。执事太监及彩嫔、昭容各侍从人等，宁国府及贾赦那宅两处自有人款待，只留三四个小太监答应。母女姊妹深叙些离别情景，及家务私情。

又有贾政至帘外问安，贾妃垂帘行参等事。又隔帘含泪谓其父曰：“田舍之家，虽齑盐布帛[102]，终能聚天伦之乐；今虽富贵已极，骨肉各方，然终无意趣！”贾政亦含泪启道：“臣，草莽寒门，鸠群鸦属之中，岂意得征凤鸾之瑞[103]。今贵人上锡天恩，下昭祖德，此皆山川日月之精奇、祖宗之远德钟于一人，幸及政夫妇。且今上启天地生物之大德，垂古今未有之旷恩，虽肝脑涂地，臣子岂能得报于万一！惟朝乾夕惕[104]，忠于厥[105]职外，愿我君万寿千秋，乃天下苍生之同幸也。贵妃切勿以政夫妇残犁〔一八〕为念，懑愤金怀[107]，更祈自加珍爱。惟业业兢兢，勤慎恭肃以侍上，庶不负上体贴眷爱如此之隆恩也。”贾妃亦嘱“只以国事为重，暇时保养，切勿记念”等语。

贾政又启：“园中所有亭台轩馆，皆系宝玉所题；如果有一二稍可寓目者，请别赐名为幸。”元妃听了宝玉能题，便含笑说：“果进益了。”贾政退出。贾妃见宝、林二人亦发比别姊妹不同，真是姣花软玉一般。因问：“宝玉为何不进见？”贾母乃启：“无谕，外男不敢擅入。”元妃命快引进来。小太监出去引宝玉进来，先行国礼毕，元妃命他进前，携手揽于怀内，又抚其头颈笑道：“比先竟长了好些……”一语未终，泪如雨下。

尤氏、凤姐等上来启道：“筵宴齐备，请贵妃游幸。”元妃等起身，命宝玉导引，遂同诸人步至园门前。早见灯光火树之中，诸般罗列非常。进园来先从“有凤来仪”、“红香绿玉”、“杏帘在望”、“蘅芷清芬”等处，登楼步阁，涉水缘山，百般眺览徘徊。一处处铺陈不一，一桩桩点缀新奇。贾妃极加奖赞，又劝：“以后不可太奢，此皆过分之极。”已而至正殿，谕免礼归座，大开筵宴。贾母等在下相陪，尤氏、李纨、凤姐等亲捧羹把盏。

元妃乃命传笔砚伺候，亲搦湘管，择其几处最喜者赐名。按其书云：

“顾恩思义”匾额

“天地启宏慈，赤子苍头[108]同感戴；

古今垂旷典〔一九〕[110]，九州万国被恩荣。”此一匾一联书于正殿

“大观园”园之名

“有凤来仪”赐名曰“潇湘馆”

“红香绿玉”改作“怡红快绿”即名曰“怡红院”

“蘅芷清芬”赐名曰“蘅芜苑”

“杏帘在望”赐名曰“浣葛山庄”

正楼曰“大观楼”，东面飞楼曰“缀锦阁”，西面斜楼曰“含芳阁”；更有“蓼风轩”、“藕香榭”、“紫菱洲”、“荇叶渚”等名；又有四字的匾额十数个，诸如“梨花春雨”、“桐剪秋风”、“荻芦夜雪”等名，此时悉难全记。又命旧有匾联俱不必摘去。于是先题一绝云：

衔山抱水建来精，多少工夫筑始成。

天上人间诸景备，芳园应锡[111]大观名。

写毕，向诸姊妹笑道：“我素乏捷才，且不长于吟咏，妹辈素所深知。今夜聊以塞责，不负斯景而已。异日少暇，必补撰《大观园记》并《省亲颂》等文，以记今日之事。妹辈亦各题一匾一诗，随才之长短，亦暂吟成，不可因我微才所缚。且喜宝玉竟知题咏，是我意外之想。此中‘潇湘馆’、‘蘅芜苑’二处，我所极爱，次之‘怡红院’、‘浣葛山庄’，此四大处，必得别有章句题咏方妙。前所题之联虽佳，如今再各赋五言律一首，使我当面试过，方不负我自幼教授之苦心。”宝玉只得答应了，下来自去构思。

迎、探、惜三人之中，要算探春又出于姊妹之上，然自忖亦难与薛林争衡，只得勉强随众塞责而已。李纨也勉强凑成一律。贾妃先挨次看姊妹们的，写道是：

旷性怡情匾额 迎　春

园成景备特精奇，奉命羞题额旷怡。

谁信世间有此境，游来宁不[112]畅神思？

万象争辉匾额 探　春

名园筑出势巍巍，奉命何惭学浅微。

精妙一时言不出，果然万物生光辉。

文章造化[113]匾额 惜　春

山水横拖[114]千里外，楼台高起五云中。

园修日月光辉[115]里，景夺文章造化功。

文采风流匾额 李　纨

秀水明山抱复回，风流文采胜蓬莱[116]。

绿裁歌扇迷芳草，红衬湘裙舞落梅。[117]

珠玉自应传盛世[118]，神仙何幸下瑶台[119]。

名园一自邀[120]游赏，未许凡人到此来。

凝晖钟瑞[121]匾额 薛宝钗

芳园筑向帝城西，华日祥云笼罩奇。

高柳喜迁莺出谷，修篁时待凤来仪。[122]

文风已著宸游夕，孝化应隆归省时。[123]

睿藻[124]仙才盈彩笔，自惭何敢再为辞。

世外仙源匾额 林黛玉

名园筑何处，仙境别红尘。

借得山川秀，添来景物新。

香融金谷酒[125]，花媚玉堂人[126]。

何幸邀恩宠，宫车过往频。

贾妃看毕，称赏一番，又笑道：“终是薛林二妹之作与众不同，非愚姊妹可同列者。”原来林黛玉安心今夜大展奇才，将众人压倒，不想贾妃只命一匾一咏，倒不好违谕多作，只胡乱作一首五言律应景罢了。

彼时宝玉尚未作完，只刚作了“潇湘馆”与“蘅芜苑”二首，正作“怡红院”一首，起草内有“绿玉春犹卷”一句。宝钗转眼瞥见，便趁众人不理论[127]，急忙回身悄推他道：“他因不喜‘红香绿玉’四字，改了‘怡红快绿’；你这会子偏用‘绿玉’二字，岂不是有意和他争驰了？况且蕉叶之说也颇多，再想一个字改了罢。”宝玉见宝钗如此说，便拭汗道：“我这会子总想不起什么典故出处来。”宝钗笑道：“你只把‘绿玉’的‘玉’字改作‘蜡’字就是了。”宝玉道：“‘绿蜡’可有出处？”宝钗见问，悄悄的咂嘴点头笑道：“亏你，今夜不过如此，将来金殿对策[128]，你大约连‘赵钱孙李’[129]都忘了呢！唐钱珝〔二〇〕咏芭蕉诗[131]头一句：‘冷烛无烟绿蜡干’，你都忘了不成？”宝玉听了，不觉洞开心臆，笑道：“该死，该死！现成眼前之物偏倒想不起来了，真可谓‘一字师’[132]了。从此后我只叫你师父，再不叫姐姐了。”宝钗亦悄悄的笑道：“还不快作上去，只管姐姐妹妹的。谁是你姐姐，那上头穿黄袍的〔二一〕才是你姐姐！你又认我这姐姐来了。”一面说笑，因说笑又怕他耽延工夫，遂抽身走开了。宝玉只得续成，共有了三首。

此时林黛玉未得展其抱负，自是不快。因见宝玉独作四律，大费神思，何不代他作两首，也省他些精神不到之处〔二二〕。想着，便也走至宝玉案旁，悄问：“可都有了？”宝玉道：“才有了三首，只少‘杏帘在望’一首了。”黛玉道：“既如此，你只抄录前三首罢。赶你写完那三首，我也替你作出这首了。”说毕，低头一想，早已吟成一律，便写在纸条上，搓成个团子，掷在他跟前。宝玉打开一看，只觉此首比自己所作的三首高过十倍，真是喜出望外，遂忙恭楷呈上。贾妃看道：

　有凤来仪 臣　宝玉谨题

秀玉[135]初成实，堪宜待凤凰。

竿竿青欲滴，个个[136]绿生凉。

迸砌妨阶水〔二三〕，穿帘碍鼎香。[138]

莫摇清碎影，好梦昼初长。

　蘅芷[139]清芬

蘅芜满净苑，萝薜助芬芳。

软衬三春草，柔拖一缕香。[140]

轻烟[141]迷曲径，冷翠[142]滴回廊。

谁谓池塘曲，谢家幽梦长。[143]

　怡红快绿

深庭长日静，两两[144]出婵娟。

绿蜡春犹卷，红妆夜未眠。[145]

凭栏垂绛袖，倚石护青烟。[146]

对立东风里，主人应解怜[147]。

　杏帘在望

杏帘招客饮，在望有山庄。

菱荇鹅儿水，桑榆燕子梁。[148]

一畦春韭绿，十里稻花香。

盛世无饥馁，何须耕织忙。

贾妃看毕，喜之不尽，说：“果然进益了！”又指“杏帘”一首为前三首之冠，遂将“浣葛山庄”改为“稻香村”。又命探春另以彩笺誊录出方才一共十数首诗，出令太监传与外厢。贾政等看了，都称颂不已。贾政又进《归省颂》。元春又命以琼酥金脍等物，赐与宝玉并贾兰。此时贾兰极幼，未达诸事，只不过随母依叔行礼，故无别传。贾环从年内染病未痊，自有闲处调养，故亦无传。

那时贾蔷带领十二个女戏，在楼下正等的不耐烦，只见一太监飞跑来说：“作完了诗，快拿戏目来！”贾蔷急将锦册呈上，并十二个花名单子。少时，太监出来，只点了四出戏：

第一出，《豪宴》；第二出，《乞巧》；

第三出，《仙缘》；第四出，《离魂》。[149]

贾蔷忙张罗扮演起来。一个个歌欺裂石之音[150]，舞有天魔之态。虽是妆演的形容，却作尽悲欢情状。刚演完了，一太监执一金盘糕点之属进来，问：“谁是龄官？”贾蔷便知是赐龄官之物，喜的忙接了，命龄官叩头。太监又道：“贵妃有谕，说‘龄官极好，再作两出戏，不拘那两出就是了’。”贾蔷忙答应了，因命龄官作《游园》、《惊梦》[151]二出。龄官自为此二出原非本角之戏，执意不作，定要作《相约》、《相骂》[152]二出。贾蔷扭他不过，只得依他作了。贾妃甚喜，命“不可难为了这女孩子，好生教习”，额外赏了两匹宫缎、两个荷包并金银锞子、食物之类。然后撤筵，将未到之处复又游顽。忽见山环佛寺，忙另盥手进去焚香拜佛，又题一匾云：“苦海慈航”[153]。又额外加恩与一般幽尼女道。

少时，太监跪启：“赐物俱齐，请验等例。”乃呈上略节。贾妃从头看了，俱甚妥协，即命照此遵行。太监听了，下来一一发放。原来贾母的是金、玉如意各一柄，沉香拐拄一根，伽楠念珠一串，“富贵长春”宫缎四匹，“福寿绵长”宫绸四匹，紫金“笔锭如意”[154]锞十锭，“吉庆有鱼”[155]银锞十锭。邢夫人、王夫人二分，只减了如意、拐、珠四样。贾敬、贾赦、贾政等，每分御制新书二部，宝墨二匣，金、银爵[156]各二只，表礼按前。宝钗、黛玉诸姊妹等，每人新书一部，宝砚一方，新样格式金银锞二对。宝玉亦同此。贾兰则是金银项圈二个，金银锞二对。尤氏、李纨、凤姐等，皆金银锞四锭，表礼四端。外表礼二十四端，清钱一百串，是赐与贾母、王夫人及诸姊妹房中奶娘众丫鬟的。贾珍、贾琏、贾环、贾蓉等，皆是表礼一分，金锞一双。其馀彩缎百端[157]，金银千两，御酒华筵，是赐东西两府凡园中管理工程、陈设、答应[158]及司戏、掌灯诸人的。外有清钱五百串，是赐厨役、优伶、百戏、杂行人丁的。

众人谢恩已毕，执事太监启道：“时已丑正三刻，请驾回銮。”贾妃听了，不由的满眼又滚下泪来。却又勉强堆笑，拉住贾母、王夫人的手，紧紧的不忍释放，再四叮咛：“不须挂念，好生自养。如今天恩浩荡，一月许进内省视一次，见面是尽有的，何必伤惨。倘明岁天恩仍许归省，万不可如此奢华靡费了！”贾母等已哭的哽噎难言了。贾妃虽不忍别，怎奈皇家规范，违错不得，只得忍心上舆去了。这里诸人好容易将贾母、王夫人安慰解劝，搀扶出园去了。正是——

〔一〕 《红楼梦》最初的稿本第十七、十八、十九回未分开。己卯、庚辰本第十九回虽已分出，但回首无书名、回次、回目；第十七至十八回则仍未分开，回次作“第十七回至十八回”，回目为“大观园试才题对额，荣国府归省庆元宵”。这两个抄本回前另页纸上均有批语：“此回宜分二回方妥。”己卯本在贾府接妙玉一段文字之后，有朱笔眉批：“‘不能表白’后是第十八回的起头。”甲辰、程甲、程乙本就是从这里分回的，第十七回回目仍用的是原来的回目，第十八回回目作“皇恩重元妃省父母，天伦乐宝玉呈才藻”（有一种程高本“呈才藻”作“献词华”）。舒序本在元春进大观园和“叹奢华过费”之间分回，第十七回回目上联照旧，下联为“荣国府奉旨赐归宁”，第十八回回目作“隔珠帘父女勉忠勤，搦湘管姊弟裁题咏”。梦稿、蒙府、戚序本则在贾宝玉游园题对额结束“方退了出来”句下分回。梦稿本第十七回回目作“会芳园试才题对额，贾宝玉机敏动诸宾”，第十八回回目为“林黛玉误剪香囊袋，贾元春归省庆元宵”。蒙府、戚序本第十七回回目作“大观园试才题对额，怡红院迷路探曲折”，第十八回回目为“庆元宵贾元春归省，助情人林黛玉传诗”。今据底本不予分回。

己卯、蒙府、戚序与底本第十七回前另页纸上抄录有一首题诗：“豪华虽足羡，离别却难堪。博得虚名在，谁人识苦甘。”这首诗是题第十七、十八两回的，梦稿本将这首诗移在第十七回回目之后。今录于此备考。

[2] 吊纸——这里指在死者灵前烧纸吊祭。

〔二〕 “大老爷已瞧过了，只等老爷瞧了”，原作“大老爷瞧了”，从舒序、甲辰本增。

[4] 游幸——旧称帝王、后妃的行动所至为“幸”，如到某地称“幸某地”，游赏称“游幸”。

[5] 偌（ruò若）大——这么大。偌：如此，这样。

[6] 秉正——这里是摆正了姿势、选正了位置的意思。秉：执；把握。

[7] 桶瓦泥鳅脊——古建筑术语称“桶瓦硬山卷棚式”。桶瓦：半圆筒形的瓦。泥鳅脊：屋面两坡桶瓦垄过脊时呈卷棚式，状如泥鳅。

[8] 水磨群墙——窗台和腰线石以下的墙体称群墙，用磨砖对缝作法砌筑。

[9] 西番草花样——一种连续不断的西番草图案。西番草即西番莲，常绿缠绕植物，夏季开花，也叫缠枝莲。

[10] 胸中大有邱壑——《世说新语·巧艺》：“顾长康（顾恺之）画谢幼舆在岩石里，人问其所以，顾曰：‘谢云：“一丘一壑自谓过之”，此子宜置丘壑中。’”后遂以“胸中自有丘壑”喻人胸有才识、意致深远。

[11] 崚嶒（lénɡ　cénɡ棱层）——形容山石怪异突兀。

[12] 香炉——指江西庐山香炉峰，其形圆耸，气霭若烟，因称香炉峰。峰下有瀑布，著称于世。

[13] 终南——终南山，横亘陕西南部，主峰在西安市南，山势高峻奇幻。

[14] 曲径通幽处——见唐代常建《题破山寺后禅院》诗。一作“竹径通幽处”。

[15] 甍（ménɡ蒙）——屋脊。《释名》：“屋脊曰甍。甍：蒙也，在上覆蒙屋也。”

[16] 杪（miǎo秒）——树梢。

[17] 港——这里读作hònɡ（哄），通水的孔洞，此指桥洞。

[18] 兽面衔吐——旧时大宅门上铜环，多铸兽头衔之，称为兽环。此指桥侧兽面石雕，作张口状。

[19] 欧阳公《醉翁亭记》——宋代欧阳修的一篇著名游记。醉翁亭：在安徽滁县西南。醉翁：欧阳修的自号。下文所引的“有亭翼然”、“酿泉”，“泻出于两峰之间”等句都见于该文。

[20] 应制——这里指奉帝王诏命而作的诗文，多为歌功颂德之作。

[21] 蕴藉（yùn　jiè运借）——含蓄不露，耐人寻味。

[22] “绕堤”一联——从上下文看，此联与“沁芳”一匾相配，意在题水，但字面上并不直接说出。“三篙”、“一脉”都代指流水。全句说绕堤翠柳映得水光澄碧，隔岸花香沁得流水芬芳。

[23] 楹（yínɡ盈）——堂前柱子。房屋一间也叫一楹。

[24] “合着地步”句——指根据房间的大小、方位等具体情况配制家具。

[25] 退步——这里指套间一类可作退居之所的附属建筑。

[26] 淇水遗风——淇水在河南省北部。《诗·卫风·淇奥》：“瞻彼淇奥，绿竹猗猗。有匪君子，如切如磋，如琢如磨。……”《诗序》认为此诗是颂扬卫武公的学识德行的。这里以“淇水遗风”题匾，照应潇湘馆的千竿翠竹，同时称颂屋主人有诗中“君子”那样的文采风度。

[27] 睢（suī虽）园雅迹——睢园：汉代梁孝王刘武在睢阳（今河南商丘）所造的花园，即梁园，又名修竹园。梁孝王好宾客，司马相如、枚乘等辞赋家皆曾被延居园中，吟咏游赏。这里题“睢园雅迹”是从景物多竹及人物风雅想来。

[28] 有凤来仪——《尚书·益稷》：“箫韶九成，凤凰来仪。”箫韶：舜所制的音乐；乐一终为一成。意思是箫韶的乐曲演奏了九章，凤凰都鸣叫着配合乐声起舞。凤凰是传说中祥瑞的灵鸟，又是后妃的象征，用在此处正合“颂圣”的要求。仪：来、招来、归来。来仪，为同义连文。

[29] 管窥蠡（lí离）测——《汉书·东方朔传》：“以筦（管）（窥）天，以蠡测海。”意思是从管子里看天，用瓢量海水。比喻见识短浅。蠡：瓠瓢。

[30] “宝鼎”一联——此联说烹茶鼎炉绿烟袅袅，窗下着棋指头生凉；而“茶闲”“棋罢”之后尚觉烟绿指凉，正是因为窗外有“千百竿翠竹遮映”。意在写竹子茂密幽深。

[31] 首尾——事情的始末。这里是经办的意思。

〔三〕 “一时，贾琏”，原无，从己卯、梦稿、舒序本补。

[33] 靴掖——塞掖在靴筒内的小夹子，用皮革或绸缎制成，可装名帖、钱票等物。

〔四〕 “忙向靴桶取靴掖内”，原作“向靴桶内取靴掖内”，从甲辰本改。

[35] 妆蟒绣堆——妆蟒指妆缎和蟒缎，织有普通图案的叫妆缎，织有蟒形花纹的叫蟒缎。绣堆指用绣花和堆花这两种不同的工艺方法制作的花绣织品。

[36] 倏（shū书）尔——忽然间。倏：急速。

[37] 桔槔（ɡāo高）辘轳——桔槔：用杠杆的井上汲水工具。辘轳：用滑轮的井上汲水工具。

[38] 范石湖田家之咏——范石湖即宋代诗人范成大，自号石湖居士，有《石湖诗集》。他晚年所作的《四时田园杂兴》描写田家生活、景物，最被人们传诵。

[39] 杏花村——出自唐代杜牧《清明》诗：“借问酒家何处有，牧童遥指杏花村。”

[40] 酒幌（huǎnɡ晃）——也作酒帘、酒旗，即酒家的招牌，以竹竿挑布帘，挂在门首。

[41] 犯了正名——这里或指园中景物题名不应直用前人已有的“杏花村”之名，否则即与之相犯，失之浅俗。犯：与应避忌的法则相抵触的意思。

[42] 红杏梢头挂酒旗——见明代唐寅《题杏林春燕》诗。

[43] 柴门临水稻花香——见唐代许浑《晚自朝台津至韦隐居郊园》诗。

〔五〕 “你能知道几个古人”，原作“你能知记得知道几个古人”，“知”、“记得”均点去。从梦稿本改。

[45] 茆堂——即茅堂。“茆”同“茅”。

[46] 恶赖——庸俗鄙劣。

〔六〕 “牛心”，原无，从梦稿、舒序本补。

[48] 牛心——犟；死心眼儿。

[49] 负郭——靠近城郭。负：这里是背倚的意思。

[50] “新涨”一联——新涨：新涨的春水。浣（huàn换）：洗涤。葛：一种蔓生植物，纤维可以织布。浣葛：化用《诗·周南·葛覃》“薄浣我衣”，这里借以称颂妇德。好云：喻稻香村“喷火蒸霞一般”的杏花，又隐寓盛德。采芹：《诗·鲁颂·泮水》：“思乐泮水，薄采其芹。”泮水，泮宫之水。泮宫即学宫，后人把考中秀才入学宫称“入泮”或“采芹”。这里“采芹人”指贾府的读书人。

[51] 武陵源、秦人旧舍——武陵源即桃花源。晋陶渊明《桃花源记》叙武陵捕鱼者无意中走入桃花源，见其中居民往来耕作怡然自乐，自称“先世避秦时乱”来到这个与世隔绝的地方。所谓“‘秦人旧舍’说避乱之意”即指此。

[52] 蓼（liǎo了）汀花溆（xù序）——“蓼汀”当从唐代罗邺《雁》诗“暮天新雁起汀洲，红蓼花开水国愁”想来。汀：汀洲，水边平沙。溆：浦；水边。

〔七〕 “山”字原无，从梦稿、舒序、甲辰本补。

〔八〕 “笑道”，原无“笑”字，从蒙府、戚序本补。

[55] 《离骚》、《文选》——《离骚》：战国时代楚国诗人屈原的代表作，其中写了许多香草，象征作者所追求的理想和美德。《文选》：即《昭明文选》，南朝梁昭明太子萧统选编，为现存最早的一部诗文选集。

[56] 五间清厦连着卷（juǎn）棚——“卷棚”是建筑术语，指一种没有正脊的屋面做法，即屋面两坡的连接处不用正脊压盖，而呈一个弧形的转折。这里“连着卷棚”疑为“连搭卷棚”。“连搭”正名作“钩连搭”，也是建筑术语，指两个或两个以上的卷棚屋面连接在一起。“五间清厦连着卷棚”可解为五开间的两卷钩连搭屋面的建筑形式。

[57] 以颜其额——在匾额上题字。颜：这里用作动词，即题字其上。额：匾。

〔九〕 “满手”，己卯、梦稿、蒙府、戚宁、舒序本并同。甲辰、戚序、程甲本作“满院”。底本原作“满手”，“手”点改为“院”。

[59] 蘼芜满手泣斜晖——句出唐代鱼玄机《闺怨》：“蘼芜盈手泣斜晖，闻道邻家夫婿归。”

[60] 三径——汉代蒋诩（xǔ许）归里隐居，荆棘塞门，于舍中竹下开三径，只与求仲、羊仲二人交往。见《三辅决录》。后常以“三径”泛指庭园间小路。

〔一〇〕 “才犹艳”，原“才”点改为“诗”。己卯、梦稿、蒙府、戚宁本均作“才犹艳”，从。甲辰、戚序本作“诗犹艳”。

[62] “吟成”一联——荳蔻：多年生草本植物，初夏开花成穗状，初为嫩叶所卷，叶渐展花渐开，俗称其未盛开者为“含胎花”，以喻少女。艳：丰满、光彩。上句说吟成荳蔻诗后才思还很旺盛。荼（tú　mí图迷）：初夏开花，朵大色白，清香馥郁。其枝条软垂，常倚架而生。下句是荼架下香梦沉酣的意思。

[63] 李太白“凤凰台”之作，全套“黄鹤楼”——李白《登金陵凤凰台》一诗，在遣词造句方面套用了崔颢的《黄鹤楼》诗。《黄鹤楼》曾被誉为唐人七律之冠，但李白诗仍能自出新意，寄托深远，故这里说“套得妙”。

[64] 琳宫——神仙所居之处，这里是说宫室瑰丽犹如仙境。

[65] 复道——楼阁之间架空连接的通道。

[66] 螭头——用于建筑或器物上的装饰部件。螭：传说中无角的龙。

[67] 丹房——道士炼丹的处所。

[68] 西府海棠——海棠名贵品种之一，枝梗略坚，花色稍红，“西府”中名“紫绵”者色重瓣多，尤为上品。见《群芳谱》。

[69] 崇光泛彩——苏轼《海棠》诗有“东风渺渺泛崇光”之句，写月光笼罩下的海棠。这里借此诗意点海棠，但“有棠无蕉”，不能兼顾“蕉棠两植”的景物，故宝玉不满意。

[70] 红香绿玉——海棠无香，故“香”非指香气，乃指香烛，属名词。这里是一个并列短语，意为红的海棠似香，绿的芭蕉如玉。以香的点燃喻海棠开放。

[71] 流云百蝠——云朵、蝙蝠组成的图案，“蝠”与“福”谐音，取吉祥多福之意。

[72] 岁寒三友——松、竹经冬不凋，梅则斗寒开花，故有“岁寒三友”之称。

[73] 集锦——这里指集合了各种花样的图案。

[74] 博古——这里指古器物的装饰图形。

[75] 卍（wàn万）卍 ——即“万福万寿”。卍：梵字，义同“万”，为印度的一种吉祥标相。

〔一一〕 “蔷薇宝相”，原作“蔷薇芬馥”，从己卯本改。

[77] 彩头——好兆头。

[78] 当（dànɡ荡）——抵得了。

〔一二〕 “扭了”，原作“牛了”，点改为“扭着”。梦稿、蒙府、戚序本均作“牛了”。按：“牛”“扭”同音借用，应作“扭”。

[80] 皤（pó婆）然——头发银白的样子。皤：白。

〔一三〕 “又有林之孝家的来回”，底本及各本均无“家的”二字，显与上下文不合，今按文意增补。

[82] 替身儿——迷信习俗以为命中有灾难的人，可以用舍身出家做僧尼的办法来消灾。官僚、地主家庭往往买穷人家子女代替出家，叫做“替身”。

[83] 足的——到底、终于。

〔一四〕 “足的这位姑娘”，原“足的”二字点去。从梦稿、甲辰本改。

[85] 贝叶遗文——古代写在贝叶上的佛经。贝叶：贝多树的叶子。古时印度僧人多用以写佛教经文。

[86] 先天神数——北宋理学家邵雍，根据《易传》关于八卦形成的解释，参杂道教思想，虚构了一个世界构造的图式，叫“先天八卦图”，用以推测宇宙和人事的变化。据说这种图式和所据的“象数”原理，在没有天地以前，就已存在，故其学称“先天学”。“先天神数”即指此类学说。

[87] 圆寂——佛教用语。一作“灭度”，梵文“涅槃”的意译。原意是佛教所说的烦恼寂灭、功德圆满的最高境界。后用来称佛或僧侣的逝世。

〔一五〕 “林之孝家的”，戚序、舒序、甲辰本并同。原“林”为“秦”点改。下同。

〔一六〕 “学会了念几卷经咒”，原作“学会念了几卷经咒”，“念”字点去。从梦稿本改。

[90] 题本——明清时，各衙门用正式文书向皇帝奏事叫题本；非正式的叫奏本。本：臣下奏事的文书。

[91] 燕坐——闲坐。燕：安闲。

[92] 龙旌凤翣（shà霎），雉羽夔（kuí葵）头——帝后的仪仗用物。翣：用野鸡或孔雀羽毛编成的大掌扇。雉：野鸡。夔：古代传说中灵异动物。

[93] 通草——即通脱木，五加科小乔木。茎含大量白髓，采髓作薄片，可制通草花或其他饰品。也可入药。

[94] 桂楫兰桡——指华美的船只。楫、桡都是船桨。桂、兰都是香木。

〔一七〕 “贾妃之心上念母年将迈”，原作“贾妃之上念母年将迈”，旁改为“贾妃之心念母亲年岁将迈”。从梦稿本改。

[96] 绰约——美丽多姿。

[97] 行宫——古代皇帝后妃外出，临时下榻之处。

[98] 庭燎——古代贵族庭院中用以照明的大烛，用松、竹、苇等捆扎成束，灌以油脂。《诗·小雅·庭燎》疏：“树之于庭，燎之为明，是烛之大者。”

[99] 火树琪花——形容灯火之盛。语出苏味道《观灯诗》：“火树银花合，星桥铁锁开。”琪：美玉。

[100] 帘卷虾须，毯铺鱼獭（tǎ塔）——虾须帘：用虾须做成的帘子。清代王士祯《分甘馀话》“虾须帘”条：“帘名虾须。，海中大虾也，长二三丈，游则竖其须，须长数尺，可以为帘，故以为名。”一说以细竹丝编制的帘子为虾须帘。清代曹庭栋《老老恒言》卷四：“有竹帘极细，名虾须帘。”鱼獭毯：用水獭皮做的毯子。鱼獭：即水獭，皮毛珍贵。

[101] 月台——古代建筑正殿前的露天平台，三面有台阶可上。

[102] 齑（jī基）盐布帛——形容生活的清苦。齑：切碎的腌菜。齑盐：泛指粗茶淡饭。布帛：原指棉织品和丝织品，这里泛指素衣布裳。

[103] 征凤鸾之瑞——意谓出现了能呈祥瑞的鸾凤。征：迹象；证验。凤鸾：喻指元春。

[104] 朝乾（qián前）夕惕——从早到晚兢兢业业，不敢稍有懈怠。乾：“乾乾”的简省，自强不息的意思。惕：小心谨慎。《易·乾》：“君子终日乾乾，夕惕若厉，无咎。”

[105] 厥（jué掘）——其。相当于“他的”、“那个”。

〔一八〕 “残犁”，蒙府、戚序本作“残黎”，甲辰本作“残年”。

[107] 懑（mèn闷）愤金怀——心里烦闷郁愤的意思。“金”是表示尊重的修饰词。

[108] 赤子苍头——泛指老百姓。赤子：指初生的婴儿。苍头：原指老年的奴仆，这里指老年人。

〔一九〕 “古今垂旷典”，原作“古人垂旷典”，从梦稿、戚序、舒序、甲辰本改。

[110] 旷典——空前的大恩典。

[111] 锡（cì次）——赐。《公羊传》庄公元年：“锡者何？赐也。”

[112] 宁不——怎不。

[113] 文章造化——指大观园的精巧华美巧夺天工。文章：文采；花纹。造化：创造化育万物的自然界。

[114] 横拖——横亘延伸。

[115] 日月光辉——喻皇帝后妃的恩泽有如日月的光辉。

[116] 蓬莱——仙山名。《史记·秦始皇本纪》：“海中有三神山，名曰蓬莱、方丈、瀛洲。”

[117] “绿裁”一联——绿绢裁制的歌扇同碧草一色，迷离难分；红装衬着湘裙舞动如梅花落瓣，随风飞回。歌扇：古时女子歌唱常以扇遮面，故称歌扇。湘裙：疑为“缃裙”，即浅黄色细绢所制之裙；一说为湘绣所做的裙子。

[118] “珠玉”句——珠玉：喻精采的诗文。杜甫《奉和贾至舍人早朝大明宫》：“朝罢香烟携满袖，诗成珠玉在挥毫。”这里借指大观园题咏。

[119] “神仙”句——喻元春归省。瑶台：神仙所居之处，这里代指皇宫。

[120] 邀——叨受；蒙受。

[121] 凝晖钟瑞——阳光瑞气凝集会聚之意。晖：日光，喻皇恩。钟：聚。

[122] “高柳”一联——上句说高高的柳树欢迎黄莺从幽谷中飞来。化用《诗·小雅·伐木》：“伐木丁丁，鸟鸣嘤嘤，出自幽谷，迁于乔木。”这里喻元春出深闺进宫闱。下句说修长的丛竹时刻等待凤凰的到临。传说凤凰食竹实，呈祥瑞。这里喻元春归省。篁：竹林。修：长。

[123] “文风”一联——宸游之夕朝廷倡导诗礼之风已经彰著，归省之时以孝教育感化万民之德更加隆盛。宸游：皇帝后妃出外巡游。宸：北辰所居，即帝王所居，代指帝王。孝化：封建孝道的教化作用。

[124] 睿（ruì瑞）藻——称颂帝王所作诗文的用语，此指元春题咏。睿：明智。藻：文辞。

[125] 金谷酒——晋代石崇有金谷园，常与宾客游宴其中，命各赋诗，“不能者，罚酒三斗”。见其《金谷诗序》。这里借指大观园开筵赋诗。

[126] 玉堂人——指元春。玉堂：嫔妃所居之处。《汉书·谷永传》：“抑损椒房玉堂之盛宠”，颜师古注：“玉堂，嬖幸之舍也。”

[127] 理论——理会。

[128] 金殿对策——金殿：即金銮殿，皇帝受朝见的殿堂。对策：原指汉代被荐举的人对答皇帝有关政治、经义的策问。清代科举制度，会试后还要参加由皇帝主持的殿试，殿试的题目为策问。

[129] 赵钱孙李——《百家姓》的头一句。《百家姓》：北宋时编的集姓氏为四言韵语的书，作者佚名。旧时流行的启蒙课本之一。

〔二〇〕 “钱翊”为“钱珝”之误。“冷烛无烟绿蜡干”乃钱珝《未展芭蕉》诗首句。唐人韦縠选编的《才调集》卷一误作“钱翊”，宋人洪迈选编的《万首唐人绝句》卷五十五和清曹寅编纂的《全唐诗》卷二十六均作“钱珝”，《新唐书·钱徽传》中亦作“钱珝”。各抄本均误作“钱翊”，今改。

[131] 钱珝（xǔ许）咏芭蕉诗——唐代诗人钱珝《未展芭蕉》诗：“冷烛无烟绿蜡干，芳心犹卷怯春寒。”宝玉题“怡红快绿”一诗中“绿蜡春犹卷”句，不但“绿蜡”二字本此，“春犹卷”三字也从此诗第二句化出。可见宝玉的诗句原是一起构思的。小说写他原用“绿玉”，据宝钗意见改为“绿蜡”，实为借此穿插对话，勾画人物。

[132] 一字师——唐代诗僧齐己《早梅》诗：“前村深雪里，昨夜数枝开。”郑谷看了后，改“数枝”为“一枝”，齐己钦服下拜。时人称郑谷为“一字师”。见陶岳《五代史补》卷三。

〔二一〕 “穿黄袍的”，原无“的”字，从舒序、甲辰本补。

〔二二〕 “也省他些精神不到之处”，戚序、舒序本并同。原作“也省他些精神恐有不到的之处”，“恐有”为旁添，“的”字点去。

[135] 秀玉——喻竹。竹子别称绿玉，见《正字通》。

[136] 个个——竹叶簇聚，形状像许多“个”字。

〔二三〕 “妨阶水”，原作“防阶水”，从舒序本改。

[138] “迸砌”一联——即“妨阶水之迸砌，碍鼎香之穿帘”。砌：石阶的边沿。两句都写竹子长得茂密，既挡住了阶下泉水不使溅上阶沿，又留住了鼎炉香烟不使穿帘散去。

[139] 蘅芷——杜蘅、白芷，都是香草。

[140] “软衬”一联——此联承上，写满苑异草，牵藤引蔓，柔软如春日嫩草，吐露出一缕芳香。

[141] 轻烟——藤蔓纤柔，夹缠萦绕，犹如轻烟。

[142] 冷翠——草上露珠，清冷碧翠。

[143] “谁谓”一联——南朝诗人谢灵运《登池上楼》诗有“池塘生春草”之句，相传为梦中所得。这联意谓：谁说只有谢家才有能触发灵感获得佳句的好梦呢。

[144] 两两——指芭蕉与海棠。

[145] “绿蜡”一联——上句说春天蕉叶卷而未舒，犹如翠烛；下句写海棠入夜犹开，像少女未眠。苏轼《海棠》诗：“只恐夜深花睡去，故烧高烛照红妆”，以红妆喻海棠。

[146] “凭栏”一联——上句说槛外海棠，红花如凭栏美人垂下的大红衫袖；下句说石旁芭蕉，绿叶像劻护的青烟。

[147] 解怜——懂得爱惜。

[148] “菱荇”一联——菱荇：菱角、荇菜。上句说鹅儿在长着菱荇的水面上嬉戏。下句意思是燕子飞越桑榆之间，忙忙碌碌地在梁上筑巢。

[149] 《豪宴》等剧目——《豪宴》是清初李玉《一捧雪》传奇中的一出。剧本演明代莫怀古因玉杯“一捧雪”，被奸邪害得家破人亡的故事。《乞巧》即清初洪昇《长生殿》传奇中的一出。剧本演唐玄宗与杨贵妃的悲剧故事。《仙缘》即明代汤显祖《邯郸记》中《合仙》一出。剧本演吕洞宾下凡度卢生上天，代替何仙姑天门扫花的故事。《离魂》是汤显祖《牡丹亭》改编本中的一出。按封建礼法，在元妃省亲时，这些戏中有些情节是不能演的。作者在这里或有通过戏名，暗示贾府和主要人物结局的用意。脂批曾谓：《豪宴》“伏贾家之败”，《乞巧》“伏元妃之死”，《仙缘》“伏甄宝玉送玉”，《离魂》“伏黛玉死”，“所点之戏剧伏四事，乃通部书之大过节、大关键。”

[150] 歌欺裂石之音——欺：超过。裂石之音：比喻声音的激越。陆游诗：“清宵长歌裂金石。”

[151] 《游园》、《惊梦》——原本《牡丹亭》中的《惊梦》一出，到了演出本分为《游园》、《惊梦》两出。演杜丽娘梦中与柳梦梅在牡丹亭欢会事。

[152] 《相约》、《相骂》——明代月榭主人《钗钏记》传奇中的两出。《相约》演皇甫吟与史碧桃约为婚姻事。《相骂》演丫鬟云香与老夫人张氏拌嘴相骂事。

[153] 苦海慈航——佛教宣扬现实世界如同苦海，劝人出家是菩萨的慈悲行为，就像用船救人超渡苦海。

[154] 笔锭如意——金锭子上的字样，以“笔锭”谐音“必定”，意谓一定吉祥、事事如意。

[155] 吉庆有鱼——银锭上的字样，以“鱼”谐音“馀”。

[156] 爵——古代的三脚酒器。

[157] 端——布帛长度单位。明·郎瑛《七修类稿》卷二十二：“今人凡以布帛一匹为一端，殊不知一端则半匹也。”

[158] 陈设、答应——此处均指近侍当差之人。明·刘若愚《明宫史》载，御前有“钦安殿、隆德殿、英华殿之陈设，以上皆穿红，总谓之近侍也。”清·福格《听雨丛谈》卷三“答应”条：“今宫眷名位，妃嫔而下，曰常在、曰答应。”

CHAPTER 17 In the Daguan Garden, (Broad Vista,) the merits of Baoyu are put to the test, by his being told to write devices for scrolls and tablets. Yuanchun returns to the Rong Guo mansion, on a visit to her parents, and offers her congratulations to them on the feast of lanterns, on the fifteenth of the first moon.

Qin Zhong, to resume our story, departed this life, and Baoyu went on so unceasingly in his bitter lamentations, that Li Gui and the other servants had, for ever so long, an arduous task in trying to comfort him before he desisted; but on his return home he was still exceeding ly disconsolate.

Dowager lady Jia afforded monetary assistance to the amount of several tens of taels; and exclusive of this, she had sacrificial presents likewise got ready. Baoyu went and paid a visit of condolence to the family, and after seven days the funeral and burial took place, but there are no particulars about them which could be put on record.

Baoyu, however, continued to mourn (his friend) from day to day, and was incessant in his remembrance of him, but there was likewise no help for it. Neither is it known after how many days he got over his grief.

On this day, Jia Zhen and the others came to tell Jia Zheng that the works in the garden had all been reported as completed, and that Mr. Jia She had already inspected them. “It only remains,” (they said), “for you, sir, to see them; and should there possibly be anything which is not proper, steps will be at once taken to effect the alterations, so that the tablets and scrolls may conveniently be written.”

After Jia Zheng had listened to these words, he pondered for a while. “These tablets and scrolls,” he remarked, “present however a difficult task. According to the rites, we should, in order to obviate any short coming, request the Imperial consort to deign and compose them; but if the honorable consort does not gaze upon the scenery with her own eyes, it will also be difficult for her to conceive its nature and indite upon it! And were we to wait until the arrival of her highness, to request her to honor the grounds with a visit, before she composes the inscriptions, such a wide landscape, with so many pavilions and arbors, will, without one character in the way of a motto, albeit it may abound with flowers, willows, rockeries, and streams, nevertheless in no way be able to show off its points of beauty to advantage.”

The whole party of family companions, who stood by, smiled. “Your views, remarkable sir,” they ventured, “are excellent; but we have now a proposal to make. Tablets and scrolls for every locality cannot, on any account, be dispensed with, but they could not likewise, by any means, be determined upon for good! Were now, for the time being, two, three, or four characters fixed upon, harmonizing with the scenery, to carry out, for form’s sake, the idea, and were they provisionally utilized as mottoes for the lanterns, tablets, and scrolls, and hung up, pending the arrival of her highness, and her visit through the grounds, when she could be requested to decide upon the devices, would not two exigencies be met with satisfactorily?”

“Your views are perfectly correct,” observed Jia Zheng, after he had heard their suggestion; “and we should go today and have a look at the place so as then to set to work to write the inscriptions; which, if suitable, can readily be used; and, if unsuitable, Yucun can then be sent for, and asked to compose fresh ones.”

The whole company smiled. “If you, sir, were to compose them today,” they ventured, “they are sure to be excellent; and what need will there be again to wait for Yucun!”

“You people are not aware,” Jia Zheng added with a smiling countenance, “that I’ve been, even in my young days, very mediocre in the composition of stanzas on flowers, birds, rockeries, and streams; and that now that I’m well up in years and have moreover the fatigue and trouble of my official duties, I’ve become in literary compositions like these, which require a light heart and gladsome mood, still more inapt. Were I even to succeed in composing any, they will unavoidably be so doltish and forced that they would contrariwise be instrumental in making the flowers, trees, garden, and pavilions, through their demer its, lose in beauty, and present instead no pleasing feature.”

“This wouldn’t anyhow matter,” remonstrated all the family companions, “for after perusing them we can all decide upon them together, each one of us recommending those he thinks best; which if excellent can be kept, and if faulty can be discarded; and there’s nothing unfeasible about this!”

“This proposal is most apposite,” rejoined Jia Zheng. “What’s more, the weather is, I rejoice, fine today; so let’s all go in a company and have a look.”

Saying this, he stood up and went forward, at the head of the whole party; while Jia Zhen betook himself in advance into the garden to let everyone know of their coming. As luck would have it, Baoyu—for he had been these last few days thinking of Qin Zhong and so ceaselessly sad and wounded at heart, that dowager lady Jia had frequently directed the servants to take him into the new garden to play—made his entrance just at this very time, and suddenly became aware of the arrival of Jia Zhen, who said to him with a smile, “Don’t you yet run away as fast as you can? Mr. Jia Zheng will be coming in a while.”

At these words, Baoyu led off his nurse and the youths, and rushed at once out of the garden, like a streak of smoke; but as he turned a corner, he came face to face with Jia Zheng, who was advancing towards that direction, at the head of all the visitors; and as he had no time to get out of the way, the only course open to him was to stand on one side.

Jia Zheng had, of late, heard the tutor extol him by saying that he displayed special ability in rhyming antithetical lines, and that although he did not like to read his books, he nevertheless possessed some depraved talents, and hence it was that he was induced at this moment to promptly bid him follow him into the garden, with the intent of putting him to the test.

Baoyu could not make out what his object was, but he was compelled to follow. As soon as they reached the garden gate, and he caught sight of Jia Zhen, standing on one side, along with several managers: “See that the garden gate is closed for a time,” Jia Zheng exclaimed, “for we’ll first see the outside and then go in.”

Jia Zhen directed a servant to close the gate, and Jia Zheng first looked straight ahead of him towards the gate and espied on the same side as the main entrance a suite of five apartments. Above, the cylindrical tiles resembled the backs of mud eels. The doors, railings, windows, and frames were all finely carved with designs of the new fashion, and were painted neither in vermilion nor in white colors. The whole extent of the walls was of polished bricks of uniform color; while below, the white marble on the terrace and steps was engraved with western foreign designs; and when he came to look to the right and to the left, everything was white as snow. At the foot of the whitewashed walls, tiger-skin pebbles were, without regard to pattern, pro miscuously inserted in the earth in such a way as of their own selves to form streaks. Nothing fell in with the custom of gaudiness and display so much in vogue, so that he naturally felt full of delight; and, when he forthwith asked that the gate should be thrown open, all that met their eyes was a long stretch of verdant hills, which shut in the view in front of them.

“What a fine hill, what a pretty hill!” exclaimed all the companions with one voice.

“Were it not for this one hill,” Jia Zheng explained, “whatever scenery is contained in it would clearly strike the eye, as soon as one entered into the garden, and what pleasure would that have been?”

“Quite so,” rejoined all of them. “But without large hills and ravines in one’s breast (liberal capacities), how could one attain such imagination!”

After the conclusion of this remark, they cast a glance ahead of them, and perceived white rugged rocks looking, either like goblins, or resembling savage beasts, lying either crossways, or in horizontal or upright positions; on the surface of which grew moss and lichen with mottled hues, or parasitic plants, which screened off the light; while, slightly visible, wound, among the rocks, a narrow pathway like the intestines of a sheep.

“If we were now to go and stroll along by this narrow path,” Jia Zheng suggested, “and to come out from over there on our return, we shall have been able to see the whole grounds.”

Having finished speaking, he asked Jia Zhen to lead the way; and he himself, leaning on Baoyu, walked into the gorge with leisurely step. Raising his head, he suddenly beheld on the hill a block of stone, as white as the surface of a looking-glass, in a site which was, in very deed, suitable to be left for an inscription, as it was bound to meet the eye.

“Gentlemen,” Jia Zheng observed, as he turned his head round and smiled, “please look at this spot. What name will it be fit to give it?”

When the company heard his remark, some maintained that the two words “Heaped verdure” should be written; and others upheld that the device should be “Embroidered Hill.” Others again suggested: “Vying with the Xiang Lu;” and others recommended “the small Zhong Nan.” And various kinds of names were proposed, which did not fall short of several tens.

All the visitors had been, it must be explained, aware at an early period of the fact that Jia Zheng meant to put Baoyu’s ability to the test, and for this reason they merely proposed a few combinations in common use. But of this intention, Baoyu himself was likewise cognizant.

After listening to the suggestions, Jia Zheng forthwith turned his head round and bade Baoyu think of some motto.

“I’ve often heard,” Baoyu replied, “that writers of old opine that it’s better to quote an old saying than to compose a new one; and that an old engraving excels in every respect an engraving of the present day. What’s more, this place doesn’t constitute the main hill or the chief feature of the scenery, and is really no site where any inscription should be put, as it no more than constitutes the first step in the inspection of the landscape. Won’t it be well to employ the exact text of an old writer consisting of ‘a tortuous path leading to a secluded (nook).’ This line of past days would, if inscribed, be, in fact, liberal to boot.”

After listening to the proposed line, they all sang its praise. “First-rate! excellent!” they cried, “the natural talents of your second son, dear friend, are lofty; his mental capacity is astute; he is unlike ourselves, who have read books but are simple fools.”

“You shouldn’t,” urged Jia Zheng smilingly, “heap upon him excessive praise; he’s young in years, and merely knows one thing which he turns to the use of ten purposes; you should laugh at him, that’s all; but we can by and by choose some device.”

As he spoke, he entered the cave, where he perceived beautiful trees with thick foliage, quaint flowers in lustrous bloom, while a line of limpid stream emanated out of a deep recess among the flowers and trees, and oozed down through the crevice of the rock. Progressing several steps further in, they gradually faced the northern side, where a stretch of level ground extended far and wide, on each side of which soared lofty buildings, intruding themselves into the skies, whose carved rafters and engraved balustrades nestled entirely among the depressions of the hills and the tops of the trees. They lowered their eyes and looked, and beheld a pure stream flowing like jade, stone steps traversing the clouds, a balustrade of white marble encircling the pond in its embrace, and a stone bridge with three archways, the animals upon which had faces disgorging water from their mouths. A pavilion stood on the bridge, and in this pavilion Jia Zhen and the whole party went and sat.

“Gentlemen,” he inquired, “what shall we write about this?”

“In the record,” they all replied, “of the ‘Drunken Old Man’s Pavilion,’ written in days of old by Ouyang, appears this line: ‘There is a pavilion pinioned-like,’ so let us call this ‘the pinioned-like pavilion,’ and finish.”

“Pinioned-like,” observed Jia Zheng smiling, “is indeed excellent; but this pavilion is constructed over the water, and there should, after all, be some allusion to the water in the designation. My humble opinion is that of the line in Ouyang’s work, ‘(the water) drips from between the two peaks,’ we should only make use of that single word ‘drips.’”

“First-rate!” rejoined one of the visitors, “capital! but what would really be appropriate are the two characters ‘dripping jadelike.’”

Jia Zhen pulled at his moustache, as he gave way to reflection; after which, he asked Baoyu to also propose one himself.

“What you, sir, suggested a while back,” replied Baoyu, “will do very well; but if we were now to sift the matter thoroughly, the use of the single word ‘drip’ by Ouyang, in his composition about the Niang spring, would appear quite apposite; while the application, also on this occasion, to this spring, of the character ‘drip’ would be found not quite suitable. Moreover, seeing that this place is intended as a separate residence (for the Imperial consort), on her visit to her parents, it is likewise imperative that we should comply with all the principles of etiquette, so that were words of this kind to be used, they would besides be coarse and inappropriate; and may it please you to fix upon something else more recondite and abstruse.”

“What do you, gentlemen, think of this argument?” Jia Zheng remarked sneeringly. “A little while ago, when the whole company devised something original, you observed that it would be better to quote an old device; and now that we have quoted an old motto, you again maintain that it’s coarse and inappropriate! But you had better give us one of yours.”

“If two characters like ‘dripping jadelike’ are to be used,” Baoyu explained, “it would be better then to employ the two words ‘Penetrating Fragrance,’ which would be unique and excellent, wouldn’t they?”

Jia Zheng pulled his moustache, nodded his head and did not utter a word; whereupon the whole party hastily pressed forward with one voice to eulogize Baoyu’s acquirements as extraordinary.

“The selection of two characters for the tablet is an easy matter,” suggested Jia Zheng, “but now go on and compose a pair of antithetical phrases with seven words in each.”

Baoyu cast a glance round the four quarters, when an idea came into his head, and he went on to recite:

The willows, which enclose the shore, the green borrow from three bamboos;

On banks apart, the flowers asunder grow, yet one perfume they give.

Upon hearing these lines, Jia Zheng gave a faint smile, as he nodded his head, whilst the whole party went on again to be effusive in their praise. But forthwith they issued from the pavilions, and crossed the pond, contemplating with close attention each elevation, each stone, each flower, or each tree. And as suddenly they raised their heads, they caught sight, in front of them, of a line of white wall, of numbers of columns, and beautiful cottages, where flourished hundreds and thousands of verdant bamboos, which screened off the rays of the sun.

What a lovely place!” they one and all exclaimed.

Speedily the whole company penetrated inside, perceiving, as soon as they had entered the gate, a zigzag arcade, below the steps of which was a raised pathway, laid promiscuously with stones, and on the furthest part stood a diminutive cottage with three rooms, two with doors leading into them and one without. Everything in the interior, in the shape of beds, teapoys, chairs, and tables, were made to harmonize with the space available. Leading out of the inner room of the cottage was a small door from which, as they egressed, they found a back-court with lofty pear trees in blossom and banana trees, as well as two very small retiring back-courts. At the foot of the wall, unexpectedly became visible an aperture where was a spring, for which a channel had been opened scarcely a foot or so wide, to enable it to run inside the wall. Winding round the steps, it skirted the buildings until it reached the front court, where it coiled and curved, flowing out under the bamboos.

“This spot,” observed Jia Zheng full of smiles, “is indeed pleasant! and could one, on a moonlight night, sit under the window and study, one would not spend a whole lifetime in vain!”

As he said this, he quickly cast a glance at Baoyu, and so terrified did Baoyu feel that he hastily drooped his head. The whole company lost no time in choosing some irrelevant talk to turn the conversation, and two of the visitors prosecuted their remarks by adding that on the tablet, in this spot, four characters should be inscribed.

“Which four characters?” Jia Zheng inquired, laughingly.

“The bequeathed aspect of the river Qi!” suggested one of them.

“It’s commonplace,” observed Jia Zheng.

Another person recommended “the remaining vestiges of the Sui Garden.”

“This too is commonplace!” replied Jia Zheng.

“Let brother Baoyu again propound one!” interposed Jia Zhen, who stood by.

“Before he composes any himself,” Jia Zheng continued, “his wont is to first discuss the pros and cons of those of others; so it’s evident that he’s an impudent fellow!”

“He’s most reasonable in his arguments,” all the visitors protested, “and why should he be called to task?”

“Don’t humor him so much!” Jia Zheng expostulated. “I’ll put up for today,” he however felt constrained to tell Baoyu, “with your haughty manner, and your rubbishy speech, so that after you have, to begin with, given us your opinion, you may next compose a device. But tell me, are there any that will do among the mottoes suggested just now by all the gentlemen?”

“They all seem to me unsuitable!” Baoyu did not hesitate to say by way of reply to this question.

Jia Zheng gave a sardonic smile. “How all unsuitable?” he exclaimed.

“This,” continued Baoyu, “is the first spot which her highness will honor on her way, and there should be inscribed, so that it should be appropriate, something commending her sacred majesty. But if a tablet with four characters has to be used, there are likewise devices ready at hand, written by poets of old; and what need is there to compose any more?”

“Are forsooth the devices ‘the river Qi and the Sui Garden’ not those of old authors?” insinuated Jia Zheng.

“They are too stiff,” replied Baoyu. “Would not the four characters: ‘a phoenix comes with dignified air,’ be better?”

With clamorous unanimity the whole party shouted: “Excellent!” and Jia Zheng nodding his head; “You beast, you beast.’” he ejaculated, “it may well be said about you that you see through a thin tube and have no more judgment than an insect! Compose another stanza,” he consequently bade him; and Baoyu recited:

In the precious tripod kettle, tea is brewed, but green is still the smoke!

O’er is the game of chess by the still window, but the fingers are yet cold.

Jia Zheng shook his head. “Neither does this seem to me good!” he said; and having concluded this remark he was leading the company out, when just as he was about to proceed, he suddenly bethought himself of something.

“The several courts and buildings and the teapoys, sideboards, tables and chairs,” he added, “may be said to be provided for. But there are still all those curtains, screens, and portieres, as well as the furniture, nicknacks, and curios; and have they too all been matched to suit the requirements of each place?”

“Of the things that have to be placed about,” Jia Zhen explained, a good number have, at an early period, been added, and of course when the time comes everything will be suitably arranged. As for the curtains, screens, and portieres, which have to be hung up, I heard yesterday brother Lian say that they are not as yet complete, that when the works were first taken in hand, the plan of each place was drawn, the measurements accurately calculated and someone despatched to attend to the things, and that he thought that yesterday half of them were bound to come in.

Jia Zheng, upon hearing this explanation, readily remembered that with all these concerns Jia Zhen had nothing to do; so that he speedily sent someone to go and call Jia Lian.

Having arrived in a short while, “How many sorts of things are there in all?” Jia Zheng inquired of him. “Of these how many kinds have by this time been got ready? and how many more are short?”

At this question, Jia Lian hastily produced, from the flaps of his boot, a paper pocket-book, containing a list, which he kept inside the tops of his boot. After perusing it and reperusing it, he made suitable reply. “Of the hundred and twenty curtains,” he proceeded, “of stiff spotted silks, embroidered with dragons in relief, and of the curtains large and small, of every kind of damask silk, eighty were got yesterday, so that there still remain forty of them to come. The two portieres were both received yesterday; and besides these, there are the two hundred red woollen portieres, two hundred portieres of Xiang Fei bamboo; two hundred door-screens of rattan, with gold streaks, and of red lacquered bamboo; two hundred portieres of black lacquered rattan; two hundred door-screens of variegated thread-netting with clusters of flowers. Of each of these kinds, half have come in, but the whole lot of them will be complete no later than autumn. Antimacassars, table-cloths, flounces for the beds, and cushions for the stools, there are a thousand two hundred of each but these likewise are ready and at hand.”

As he spoke, they proceeded outwards, but suddenly they perceived a hill extending obliquely in such a way as to intercept the passage; and as they wound round the curve of the hill faintly came to view a line of yellow mud walls, the whole length of which was covered with paddy stalks for the sake of protection, and there were several hundreds of apricot trees in bloom, which presented the appearance of being fire, spurted from the mouth, or russet clouds, rising in the air. Inside this enclosure, stood several thatched cottages. Outside grew, on the other hand, mulberry trees, elms, mallows, and silkworm oaks, whose tender shoots and new twigs, of every hue, were allowed to bend and to intertwine in such a way as to form two rows of green fence. Beyond this fence and below the white mound, was a well, by the side of which stood a well-sweep, windlass, and such like articles; the ground further down being divided into parcels, and apportioned into fields, which, with the fine vegetables and cabbages in flower, presented, at the first glance, the aspect of being illimitable.

“This is,” Jia Zheng observed chuckling, “the place really imbued with a certain amount of the right principle; and laid out, though it has been by human labor, yet when it strikes my eye, it so moves my heart, that it cannot help arousing in me the wish to return to my native place and become a farmer. But let us enter and rest a while.”

As he concluded these words, they were on the point of walking in, when they unexpectedly discerned a stone, outside the trellis gate, by the roadside, which had also been left as a place on which to inscribe a motto.

“Were a tablet,” argued the whole company smilingly, “put up high in a spot like this, to be filled up by and by, the rustic aspect of a farm would in that case be completely done away with; and it will be better, yea far better to erect this slab on the ground, as it will further make manifest many points of beauty. But unless a motto could be composed of the same excellence as that in Fan Shihu’s song on farms, it will not be adequate to express its charms!”

“Gentlemen,” observed Jia Zheng, “please suggest something.”

“A short while back,” replied the whole company, “your son, venerable brother, remarked that devising a new motto was not equal to quoting an old one, and as sites of this kind have been already exhausted by writers of days of old, wouldn’t it be as well that we should straightway call it the ‘apricot blossom village?’ and this will do splendidly.”

When Jia Zheng heard this remark, he smiled and said, addressing himself to Jia Zhen: “This just reminds me that although this place is perfect in every respect, there’s still one thing wanting in the shape of a wine board; and you had better then have one made tomorrow on the very same pattern as those used outside in villages; and it needn’t be anything gaudy, but hung above the top of a tree by means of bamboos.”

Jia Zhen assented. “There’s no necessity,” he went on to explain, “to keep any other birds in here, but only to rear a few geese, ducks, fowls, and such like; as in that case they will be in perfect keeping with the place.”

“A splendid idea!” Jia Zheng rejoined, along with all the party.

“‘Apricot blossom village’ is really first-rate,” continued Jia Zheng as he again addressed himself to the company; “but the only thing is that it encroaches on the real designation of the village; and it will be as well to wait (until her highness comes), when we can request her to give it a name.”

“Certainly!” answered the visitors with one voice; “but now as far as a name goes, for mere form, let us all consider what expressions will be suitable to employ.”

Baoyu did not however give them time to think; nor did he wait for Jia Zheng’s permission, but suggested there and then: “In old poetical works there’s this passage: ‘At the top of the red apricot tree hangs the flag of an inn,’ and wouldn’t it be advisable, on this occasion, to temporarily adopt the four words: ‘the sign on the apricot tree is visible?’”

“‘Is visible’ is excellent,” suggested the whole number of them, “and what’s more it secretly accords with the meaning implied by ‘apricot blossom village.’”

“Were the two words ‘apricot blossom’ used for the name of the village, they would be too commonplace and unsuitable;” added Baoyu with a sardonic grin, “but there’s another passage in the works of a poet of the Tang era: ‘By the wooden gate near the water the corn-flower emits its fragrance;’ and why not make use of the motto ‘corn fragrance village,’ which will be excellent?”

When the company heard his proposal, they, with still greater vig or, unanimously combined in crying out “Capital!” as they clapped their hands.

Jia Zheng, with one shout, interrupted their cries, “You ignorant child of wrath!” he ejaculated; “how many old writers can you know, and how many stanzas of ancient poetical works can you remember, that you will have the boldness to show off in the presence of all these experienced gentlemen? (In allowing you to give vent to) all the nonsense you uttered my object was no other than to see whether your brain was clear or muddled; and all for fun’s sake, that’s all; and lo, you’ve taken things in real earnest!”

Saying this, he led the company into the interior of the hall with the mallows. The windows were pasted with paper, and the bedsteads made of wood, and all appearance of finery had been expunged, and Jia Zheng’s heart was naturally much gratified; but nevertheless, scowling angrily at Baoyu, “What do you think of this place?” he asked.

When the party heard this question, they all hastened to stealthily give a nudge to Baoyu, with the express purpose of inducing him to say it was nice; but Baoyu gave no ear to what they all urged. “It’s by far below the spot,” he readily replied, “designated ‘a phoenix comes with dignified air.’”

“You ignorant stupid thing!” exclaimed Jia Zheng at these words; “what you simply fancy as exquisite, with that despicable reliance of yours upon luxury and display, are two-storied buildings and painted pillars! But how can you know anything about this aspect so pure and unobtrusive, and this is all because of that failing of not studying your books!”

“Sir,” hastily answered Baoyu, “your injunctions are certainly correct; but men of old have often made allusion to ‘natural;’ and what is, I wonder, the import of these two characters?”

The company had perceived what a perverse mind Baoyu possessed, and they one and all were much surprised that he should be so silly beyond the possibility of any change; and when now they heard the question he asked, about the two characters representing “natural,” they, with one accord, speedily remarked, “Everything else you understand, and how is it that on the contrary you don’t know what ‘natural’ implies? The word ‘natural’ means effected by heaven itself and not made by human labor.”

“Well, just so,” rejoined Baoyu; “but the farm, which is laid out in this locality, is distinctly the handiwork of human labor; in the distance, there are no neighboring hamlets; near it, adjoin no wastes; though it bears a hill, the hill is destitute of streaks; though it be close to water, this water has no spring; above, there is no pagoda nestling in a temple; below, there is no bridge leading to a market; it rises abrupt and solitary, and presents no grand sight! The palm would seem to be carried by the former spot, which is imbued with the natural principle, and possesses the charms of nature; for, though bamboos have been planted in it, and streams introduced, they nevertheless do no violence to the works executed. ‘A natural landscape,’ says, an ancient author in four words; and why? Simply because he apprehended that what was not land, would, by forcible ways, be converted into land; and that what was no hill would, by unnatural means, be raised into a hill. And ingenious though these works might be in a hundred and one ways, they cannot, after all, be in harmony….”

But he had no time to conclude, as Jia Zheng flew into a rage. “Drive him off,” he shouted; (but as Baoyu) was on the point of going out, he again cried out: “Come back! make up,” he added, “another couplet, and if it isn’t clear, I’ll for all this give you a slap on your mouth.”

Baoyu had no alternative but to recite as follows:

A spot in which the “Ge” fiber to bleach, as the fresh tide doth swell the waters green!

A beauteous halo and a fragrant smell the man encompass who the cress did pluck!

Jia Zheng, after this recital, nodded his head. “This is still worse!” he remarked, but as he reproved him, he led the company outside, and winding past the mound, they penetrated among flowers, and wending their steps by the willows, they touched the rocks and lingered by the stream. Passing under the trellis with yellow roses, they went into the shed with white roses; they crossed by the pavilion with peonies, and walked through the garden, where the white peony grew; and entering the court with the cinnamon roses, they reached the island of bananas. As they meandered and zigzagged, suddenly they heard the rustling sound of the water, as it came out from a stone cave, from the top of which grew parasitic plants drooping downwards, while at its bottom floated the fallen flowers.

“What a fine sight!” they all exclaimed; “what beautiful scenery!”

“Gentlemen,” observed Jia Zheng, “what name do you propose for this place?”

“There’s no further need for deliberation,” the company rejoined; “for this is just the very spot fit for the three words ‘Wu Ling Spring.’”

“This too is matter-of-fact!” Jia Zheng objected laughingly, “and likewise antiquated.”

“If that won’t do,” the party smiled, “well then what about the four characters implying ‘An old cottage of a man of the Qin dynasty?’”

“This is still more exceedingly plain!” interposed Baoyu. “‘The old cottage of a man of the Qin dynasty’ is meant to imply a retreat from revolution, and how will it suit this place? Wouldn’t the four characters be better denoting ‘an isthmus with smart weed, and a stream with flowers?’”

When Jia Zheng heard these words, he exclaimed: “You’re talking still more stuff and nonsense?” and forthwith entering the grotto, Jia Zheng went on to ask of Jia Zhen, “Are there any boats or not?”

“There are to be,” replied Jia Zhen, “four boats in all from which to pick the lotus, and one boat for sitting in; but they haven’t now as yet been completed.”

“What a pity!” Jia Zheng answered smilingly, “that we cannot go in.”

“But we could also get into it by the tortuous path up the hill,” Jia Zhen ventured; and after finishing this remark, he walked ahead to show the way, and the whole party went over, holding on to the creepers, and supporting themselves by the trees, when they saw a still larger quantity of fallen leaves on the surface of the water, and the stream itself, still more limpid, gently and idly meandering along on its circuitous course. By the bank of the pond were two rows of weeping willows, which, intermingling with peach and apricot trees, screened the heavens from view, and kept off the rays of the sun from this spot, which was in real truth devoid of even a grain of dust.

Suddenly, they espied in the shade of the willows, an arched wooden bridge also reveal itself to the eye, with bannisters of vermilion color. They crossed the bridge, and lo, all the paths lay open before them; but their gaze was readily attracted by a brick cottage spotless and cool-looking; whose walls were constructed of polished bricks, of uniform color; (whose roof was laid) with speckless tiles; and whose enclosing walls were painted; while the minor slopes, which branched off from the main hill, all passed along under the walls on to the other side.

“This house, in a site like this, is perfectly destitute of any charm!” added Jia Zheng.

And as they entered the door, abruptly appeared facing them a large boulder studded with holes and soaring high in the skies, which was surrounded on all four sides by rocks of every description, and completely, in fact, hid from view the rooms situated in the compound. But of flowers or trees, there was not even one about; and all that was visible were a few strange kinds of vegetation; some being of the creeper genus, others parasitic plants, either hanging from the apex of the hill, or inserting themselves into the base of the rocks; drooping down even from the eaves of the house, entwining the pillars, and closing round the stone steps. Or like green bands, they waved and flapped; or like gold thread, they coiled and bent, either with seeds resembling cinnabar, or with blossoms like golden olea; whose fragrance and aroma could not be equalled by those emitted by flowers of ordinary species.

“This is pleasant!” Jia Zheng could not refrain from saying; “the only thing is that I don’t know very much about flowers.”

“What are here are lianas and ficus pumila !” some of the company observed.

“How ever can the liana and the ficus have such unusual scent?” questioned Jia Zheng.

“Indeed they aren’t!” interposed Baoyu. “Among all these flowers, there are also ficus and liana, but those scented ones are iris, ligularia , and ‘Wu’ flowers; that kind consist, for the most part, of ‘Zhi’ flowers and orchids; while this mostly of gold-colored dolichos. That species is the hypericum plant, this the ‘Yu Lu’ creeper. The red ones are, of course, the purple rue; the green ones consist for certain, of the green ‘Zhi’ plant; and, to the best of my belief, these various plants are mentioned in the ‘Li Sao’ and ‘Wen Xuan.’ These rare plants are, some of them called something or other like ‘Huo Na’ and ‘Jiang Hui;’ others again are designated something like ‘Lun Zu’ and ‘Zi Jiang;’ while others there are whose names sound like ‘Shi Fan,’ ‘Shui Song,’ and ‘Fu Liu,’ which together with other species are to be found in the ‘Treatise about the Wu city’ by Zuo Daizhong. There are also those which go under the appellation of ‘Lu Ti,’ or something like that; while there are others that are called something or other like ‘Dan Jiao,’ ‘Mi Wu,’ and ‘Feng Lian;’ reference to which is made in the ‘Treatise on the Shu city.’ But so many years have now elapsed, and the times have so changed (since these treatises were written), that people, being unable to discriminate (the real names) may consequently have had to appropriate in every case such names as suited the external aspect, so that they may, it is quite possible, have gradually come to be called by wrong designations.”

But he had no time to conclude; for Jia Zheng interrupted him. “Who has ever asked you about it?” he shouted; which plunged Baoyu into such a fright, that he drew back, and did not venture to utter another word.

Jia Zheng perceiving that on both sides alike were covered passages resembling outstretched arms, forthwith continued his steps and entered the covered way, when he caught sight, at the upper end, of a five-roomed building, without spot or blemish, with folding blinds extending in a connected line, and with corridors on all four sides; (a building) which with its windows so green, and its painted walls, excelled, in spotless elegance, the other buildings they had seen before, to which it presented such a contrast.

Jia Zheng heaved a sigh. “If one were able,” he observed, “to boil his tea and thrum his lyre in here, there wouldn’t even be any need for him to burn any more incense. But the execution of this structure is so beyond conception that you must, gentlemen, compose something nice and original to embellish the tablet with, so as not to render such a place of no effect!”

“There’s nothing so really pat,” suggested the company smiling; “as ‘the orchid-smell-laden breeze’ and ‘the dew-bedecked epidendrum!’”

“These are indeed the only four characters,” rejoined Jia Zheng, “that could be suitably used; but what’s to be said as far as the scroll goes?”

“I’ve thought of a couplet,” interposed one of the party, “which you’ll all have to criticize, and put into ship-shape; its burden is this:

“The musk-like epidendrum smell enshrouds the court, where shines the sun with oblique beams;

The iris fragrance is wafted over the isle illumined by the moon’s clear rays.”

“As far as excellence is concerned, it’s excellent,” observed the whole party, “but the two words representing ‘with oblique beams’ are not felicitous.”

And as someone quoted the line from an old poem:

The angelica fills the court with tears, what time the sun doth slant.

“Lugubrious, lugubrious!” expostulated the company with one voice.

Another person then interposed. “I also have a couplet, whose merits you, gentlemen, can weigh; it runs as follows:

“Along the three pathways doth float the Yuhui scented breeze! The radiant moon in the whole hall shines on the gold orchid!”

Jia Zheng tugged at his moustache and gave way to meditation. He was just about also to suggest a stanza, when, upon suddenly raising his head, he espied Baoyu standing by his side, too timid to give vent to a single sound.

“How is it,” he purposely exclaimed, “that when you should speak, you contrariwise don’t? Is it likely that you expect someone to request you to confer upon us the favor of your instruction?”

“In this place,” Baoyu rejoined at these words, “there are no such things as orchids, musk, resplendent moon, or islands; and were one to begin quoting such specimens of allusions, to scenery, two hundred couplets could be readily given without, even then, having been able to exhaust the supply!”

“Who presses your head down,” Jia Zheng urged, “and uses force that you must come out with all these remarks?”

“Well, in that case,” added Baoyu, “there are no fitter words to put on the tablet than the four representing: ‘The fragrance pure of the ligularia and iris.’ While the device on the scroll might be:

“Sung is the nutmeg song, but beauteous still is the sonnet!

Near the Tu Mei to sleep, makes e’en a dream with fragrance full!”

“This is,” laughed Jia Zheng sneeringly, “an imitation of the line:

“A book when it is made of plaintain leaves, the writing green is also bound to be!

“So that there’s nothing remarkable about it.”

“Li Bai, in his work on the Phoenix Terrace,” protested the whole party, “copied, in every point, the Huang He Lou. But what’s essential is a faultless imitation. Now were we to begin to criticize minutely the couplet just cited, we would indeed find it to be, as compared with the line ‘A book when it is made of plantain leaves,’ still more elegant and of wider application!”

“What an idea?” observed Jia Zheng derisively.

But as he spoke, the whole party walked out; but they had not gone very far before they caught sight of a majestic summer house, towering high peak-like, and of a structure rising loftily with story upon story; and completely locked in as they were on every side they were as beautiful as the Jade palace. Far and wide, road upon road coiled and wound; while the green pines swept the eaves, the jady epidendrum encompassed the steps, the animals’ faces glistened like gold, and the dragons’ heads shone resplendent in their variegated hues.

“This is the Main Hall,” remarked Jia Zheng; “the only word against it is that there’s a little too much finery.”

“It should be so,” rejoined one and all, “so as to be what it’s intended to be! The imperial consort has, it is true, an exalted preference for economy and frugality, but her present honorable position requires the observance of such courtesies, so that (finery) is no fault.”

As they made these remarks and advanced on their way the while, they perceived, just in front of them, an archway project to view, constructed of jadelike stone; at the top of which the coils of large dragons and the scales of small dragons were executed in perforated style.

“What’s the device to be for this spot?” inquired Jia Zheng.

“It should be ‘fairy land,’” suggested all of them, “so as to be apposite!”

Jia Zheng nodded his head and said nothing. But as soon as Baoyu caught sight of this spot something was suddenly aroused in his heart and he began to ponder within himself. “This place really resembles something that I’ve seen somewhere or other.” But he could not at the moment recall to mind what year, moon, or day this had happened.

Jia Zheng bade him again propose a motto; but Baoyu was bent upon thinking over the details of the scenery he had seen on a former occasion, and gave no thought whatever to this place, so that the whole company were at a loss what construction to give to his silence, and came simply to the conclusion that, after the bullying he had had to put up with for ever so long, his spirits had completely vanished, his talents become exhausted and his speech impoverished; and that if he were harassed and pressed, he might perchance, as the result of anxi ety, contract some ailment or other, which would of course not be a suitable issue, and they lost no time in combining together to dissuade Jia Zheng.

“Never mind,” they said, “tomorrow will do to compose some device; let’s drop it now.”

Jia Zheng himself was inwardly afraid lest dowager lady Jia should be anxious, so that he hastily remarked as he forced a smile. “You beast, there are, after all, also occasions on which you are no good! but never mind! I’ll give you one day to do it in, and if by tomorrow you haven’t been able to compose anything, I shall certainly not let you off. This is the first and foremost place and you must exercise due care in what you write.”

Saying this, he sallied out, at the head of the company, and cast another glance at the scenery.

Indeed from the time they had entered the gate up to this stage, they had just gone over five or six tenths of the whole ground, when it happened again that a servant came and reported that someone had arrived from Mr. Yucun’s to deliver a message. “These several places (which remain),” Jia Zheng observed with a smile, “we have no time to pass under inspection; but we might as well nevertheless go out at least by that way, as we shall be able, to a certain degree, to have a look at the general aspect.”

With these words, he showed the way for the family companions until they reached a large bridge, with water entering under it, looking like a curtain made of crystal. This bridge, the fact is, was the dam, which communicated with the river outside, and from which the stream was introduced into the grounds.

“What’s the name of this water-gate?” Jia Zheng inquired.

“This is,” replied Baoyu, “the main stream of the Qinfang river, and is therefore called the Qinfang water-gate.”

“Nonsense!” exclaimed Jia Zheng. “The two words Qinfang must on no account be used!”

And as they speedily advanced on their way, they either came across elegant halls, or thatched cottages; walls made of piled-up stone, or gates fashioned of twisted plants; either a secluded nunnery or Buddhist fane, at the foot of some hill; or some unsullied houses, hidden in a grove, tenanted by rationalistic priestesses; either extensive corridors and winding grottoes; or square buildings, and circular pavilions. But Jia Zheng had not the energy to enter any of these places, for as he had not had any rest for ever so long, his legs felt shaky and his feet weak.

Suddenly they also discerned ahead of them a court disclose itself to view.

“When we get there,” Jia Zheng suggested, “we must have a little rest.” Straightway as he uttered the remark, he led them in, and winding round the jade-green peach-trees, covered with blossom, they passed through the bamboo fence and flower-laden hedge, which were twisted in such a way as to form a circular, cave-like gateway, when unexpectedly appeared before their eyes an enclosure with whitewashed walls, in which verdant willows drooped in every direction.

Jia Zheng entered the gateway in company with the whole party. Along the whole length of both sides extended covered passages, connected with each other; while in the court were laid out several rock-eries. In one quarter were planted a number of banana trees; on the opposite stood a plant of begonia from Xifu. Its appearance was like an open umbrella. The gossamer hanging (from its branches) resembled golden threads. The corollas (seemed) to spurt out cinnabar.

“What a beautiful flower! what a beautiful flower!” ejaculated the whole party with one voice; “begonias are verily to be found; but never before have we seen anything the like of this in beauty.”

“This is called the maiden begonia and is, in fact, a foreign species,” Jia Zheng observed. “There’s a homely tradition that it is because it emanates from the maiden kingdom that its flowers are most prolific; but this is likewise erratic talk and devoid of common sense.”

“They are, after all,” rejoined the whole company, “so unlike others (we have seen), that what’s said about the maiden kingdom is, we are inclined to believe, possibly a fact.”

“I presume,” interposed Baoyu, “that some clever bard or poet, (perceiving) that this flower was red like cosmetic, delicate as if propped up in sickness, and that it closely resembled the nature of a young lady, gave it, consequently, the name of maiden! People in the world will propagate idle tales, all of which are unavoidably treated as gospel!”

“We receive (with thanks) your instructions; what excellent expla nation!” they all remarked unanimously, and as they expressed these words, the whole company took their seats on the sofas under the colonnade.

“Let’s think of some original text or other for a motto,” Jia Zheng having suggested, one of the companions opined that the two characters: “Banana and stork” would be felicitous; while another one was of the idea that what would be faultless would be: “Collected splendor and waving elegance!”

“‘Collected splendor and waving elegance’ is excellent,” Jia Zheng observed addressing himself to the party; and Baoyu himself, while also extolling it as beautiful, went on to say: “There’s only one thing however to be regretted!”

“What about regret?” the company inquired.

“In this place,” Baoyu explained, “are set out both bananas as well as begonias, with the intent of secretly combining in them the two properties of red and green; and if mention of one of them be made, and the other be omitted, (the device) won’t be good enough for selection.”

“What would you then suggest?” Jia Zheng asked.

“I would submit the four words, ‘the red (flowers) are fragrant, the green (banana leaves) like jade,’ which would render complete the beauties of both (the begonias and bananas).”

“It isn’t good! it isn’t good!” Jia Zheng remonstrated as he shook his head; and while passing this remark, he conducted the party into the house, where they noticed that the internal arrangements effected differed from those in other places, as no partitions could, in fact, be discerned. Indeed, the four sides were all alike covered with boards carved hollow with fretwork, (in designs consisting) either of rolling clouds and hundreds of bats; or of the three friends of the cold season of the year, (fir, bamboo, and almond); of scenery and human beings, or of birds or flowers; either of clusters of decoration, or of relics of olden times; either of ten thousand characters of happiness or of ten thousand characters of longevity. The various kinds of designs had been all carved by renowned hands, in variegated colors, inlaid with gold, and studded with precious gems; while on shelf upon shelf were either arranged collections of books, or tripods were laid out; either brushes and inkslabs were distributed about, or vases with flowers set out, or figured pots were placed about; the designs of the shelves being either round or square; or similar to sunflowers or banana leaves; or like links, half overlapping each other. And in very truth they resembled bouquets of flowers or clusters of tapestry, with all their fretwork so transparent. Suddenly (the eye was struck) by variegated gauzes pasted (on the wood-work), actually forming small windows; and of a sudden by fine thin silks lightly overshadowing (the fretwork) just as if there were, after all, secret doors. The whole walls were in addition traced, with no regard to symmetry, with outlines of the shapes of curios and nick-nacks in imitation of lutes, double-edged swords, hanging bottles and the like, the whole number of which, though (apparently) suspended on the walls, were all however on a same level with the surface of the partition walls.

“What fine ingenuity!” they all exclaimed extollingly; “what a labor they must have been to carry out!”

Jia Zheng had actually stepped in; but scarcely had they reached the second stage, before the whole party readily lost sight of the way by which they had come in. They glanced on the left, and there stood a door, through which they could go. They cast their eyes on the right, and there was a window which suddenly impeded their progress. They went forward, but there again they were obstructed by a bookcase. They turned their heads round, and there too stood windows pasted with transparent gauze and available doorways: but the moment they came face to face with the door, they unexpectedly perceived that a whole company of people had likewise walked in, just in front of them, whose appearance resembled their own in every respect. But it was only a mirror. And when they rounded the mirror, they detected a still larger number of doors.

“Sir,” Jia Zhen remarked with a grin; “if you’ll follow me out through this door, we’ll forthwith get into the back-court; and once out of the back-court, we shall be, at all events, nearer than we were before.”

Taking the lead, he conducted Jia Zheng and the whole party round two gauze mosquito houses, when they verily espied a door through which they made their exit, into a court, replete with stands of cinnamon roses. Passing round the flower-laden hedge, the only thing that spread before their view was a pure stream impeding their advance. The whole company was lost in admiration. “Where does this water again issue from?” they cried.

Jia Zhen pointed to a spot at a distance. “Starting originally,” he explained, “from that water-gate, it runs as far as the mouth of that cave, when from among the hills on the northeast side, it is introduced into that village, where again a diverging channel has been opened and it is made to flow in a southwesterly direction; the whole volume of water then runs to this spot, where collecting once more in one place, it issues, on its outward course, from beneath that wall.”

“It’s most ingenious!” they one and all exclaimed, after they had listened to him; but, as they uttered these words, they unawares realized that a lofty hill obstructed any further progress. The whole party felt very hazy about the right road. But “Come along after me,” Jia Zhen smilingly urged, as he at once went ahead and showed the way, whereupon the company followed in his steps, and as soon as they turned round the foot of the hill, a level place and broad road lay before them; and wide before their faces appeared the main entrance.

“This is charming! this is delightful!” the party unanimously exclaimed, “what wits must have been ransacked, and ingenuity attained, so as to bring things to this extreme degree of excellence!”

Forthwith the party egressed from the garden, and Baoyu’s heart anxiously longed for the society of the young ladies in the inner quarters, but as he did not hear Jia Zheng bid him go, he had no help but to follow him into the library. But suddenly Jia Zheng bethought himself of him. “What,” he said, “you haven’t gone yet! the old lady will I fear be anxious on your account; and is it pray that you haven’t as yet had enough walking?”

Baoyu at length withdrew out of the library. On his arrival in the court, a page, who had been in attendance on Jia Zheng, at once pressed forward, and took hold of him fast in his arms. “You’ve been lucky enough,” he said, “today to have been in master’s good graces! just a while back when our old mistress despatched servants to come on several occasions and ask after you, we replied that master was pleased with you; for had we given any other answer, her ladyship would have sent to fetch you to go in, and you wouldn’t have had an opportunity of displaying your talents. Everyone admits that the several stanzas you recently composed were superior to those of the whole company put together; but you must, after the good luck you’ve had today, give us a tip!”

“I’ll give each one of you a tiao,” Baoyu rejoined smirkingly.

“Who of us hasn’t seen a tiao?” they all exclaimed, “let’s have that purse of yours, and have done with it!”

Saying this, one by one advanced and proceeded to unloosen the purse, and to unclasp the fan-case; and allowing Baoyu no time to make any remonstrance, they stripped him of every ornament in the way of appendage which he carried about on his person. “Whatever we do let’s escort him home!” they shouted, and one after another hustled round him and accompanied him as far as dowager lady Jia’s door.

Her ladyship was at this moment awaiting his arrival, so that when she saw him walk in, and she found out that (Jia Zheng) had not bullied him, she felt, of course, extremely delighted. But not a long interval elapsed before Xiren came to serve the tea; and when she perceived that on his person not one of the ornaments remained, she conse quently smiled and inquired: “Have all the things that you had on you been again taken away by these barefaced rascals?”

As soon as Lin Daiyu heard this remark, she crossed over to him and saw at a glance that not one single trinket was, in fact, left. “Have you also given them,” she felt constrained to ask, “the purse that I gave you? Well, by and by, when you again covet anything of mine, I shan’t let you have it.”

After uttering these words, she returned into her apartment in high dudgeon, and taking the scented bag, which Baoyu had asked her to make for him, and which she had not as yet finished, she picked up a pair of scissors, and instantly cut it to pieces.

Baoyu noticing that she had lost her temper, came after her with hurried step, but the bag had already been cut with the scissors; and as Baoyu observed how extremely fine and artistic this scented bag was, in spite of its unfinished state, he verily deplored that it should have been rent to pieces for no rhyme or reason. Promptly therefore unbuttoning his coat, he produced from inside the lapel the purse, which had been fastened there. “Look at this!” he remarked as he handed it to Daiyu; “what kind of thing is this! have I given away to any one what was yours?” Lin Daiyu, upon seeing how much he prized it as to wear it within his clothes, became alive to the fact that it was done with intent, as he feared lest anyone should take it away; and as this conviction made her sorry that she had been so impetuous as to have cut the scented bag, she lowered her head and uttered not a word.

“There was really no need for you to have cut it,” Baoyu observed; “but as I know that you’re loath to give me anything, what do you say to my returning even this purse?”

With these words, he threw the purse in her lap and walked off; which vexed Daiyu so much the more that, after giving way to tears, she took up the purse in her hands to also destroy it with the scissors, when Baoyu precipitately turned round and snatched it from her grasp.

“My dear cousin,” he smilingly pleaded, “do spare it!” and as Daiyu dashed down the scissors and wiped her tears: “You needn’t,” she urged, “be kind to me at one moment, and unkind at another; if you wish to have a tiff, why then let’s part company!” But as she spoke, she lost control over her temper, and, jumping on her bed, she lay with her face turned towards the inside, and set to work drying her eyes.

Baoyu could not refrain from approaching her. “My dear cousin, my own cousin,” he added, “I confess my fault!”

“Go and find Baoyu!” dowager lady Jia thereupon gave a shout from where she was in the front apartment, and all the attendants explained that he was in Miss Lin’s room.

“All right, that will do! that will do!” her ladyship rejoined, when she heard this reply; “let the two cousins play together; his father kept him a short while back under check, for ever so long, so let him have some distraction. But the only thing is that you mustn’t allow them to have any quarrels.” To which the servants in a body expressed their obedience.

Daiyu, unable to put up with Baoyu’s importunity, felt compelled to rise. “Your object seems to be,” she remarked, “not to let me have any rest. If it is, I’ll run away from you.” Saying which, she there and then was making her way out, when Baoyu protested with a face full of smiles: “Wherever you go, I’ll follow!” and as he, at the same time, took the purse and began to fasten it on him, Daiyu stretched out her hand, and snatching it away, “You say you don’t want it,” she observed, “and now you put it on again! I’m really much ashamed on your account!” And these words were still on her lips when with a sound of “chi”, she burst out laughing.

“My dear cousin,” Baoyu added, “tomorrow do work another scent ed bag for me!”

“That too will rest upon my good pleasure,” Daiyu rejoined.

As they conversed, they both left the room together and walked into Madame Wang’s suite of apartments, where, as luck would have it, Baochai was also seated.

Unusual commotion prevailed, at this time, over at Madame Wang’s, for the fact is that Jia Se had already come back from Gusu, where he had selected twelve young girls, and settled about an instructor, as well as about the theatrical properties and the other necessaries. And as Mrs. Xue had by this date moved her quarters into a separate place on the northeast side, and taken up her abode in a secluded and quiet house, (Madame Wang) had had repairs of a distinct character executed in the Pear Fragrance Court, and then issued directions that the instructor should train the young actresses in this place; and casting her choice upon all the women, who had, in days of old, received a training in singing, and who were now old matrons with white hair, she bade them have an eye over them and keep them in order. Which done, she enjoined Jia Se to assume the chief control of all matters connected with the daily and monthly income and outlay, as well as of the accounts of all articles in use of every kind and size.

Lin Zhixiao also came to report: “that the twelve young nuns and Daoist girls, who had been purchased after proper selection, had all arrived, and that the twenty newly-made Daoist coats had also been received. That there was besides a maiden, who though devoted to asceticism, kept her chevelure unshaved; that she was originally a deni zen of Suchow, of a family whose ancestors were also people of letters and official status; that as from her youth up she had been stricken with much sickness, (her parents) had purchased a good number of substitutes (to enter the convent), but all with no relief to her, until at last this girl herself entered the gate of abstraction when she at once recovered. That hence it was that she grew her hair, while she devoted herself to an ascetic life; that she was this year eighteen years of age, and that the name given to her was Miaoyu; that her father and mother were, at this time, already dead; that she had only by her side, two old nurses and a young servant girl to wait upon her; that she was most proficient in literature, and exceedingly well versed in the classics and canons; and that she was likewise very attractive as far as looks went; that having heard that in the city of Chang’an, there were vestiges of Guanyin and relics of the canons inscribed on leaves, she followed, last year, her teacher (to the capital). She now lives,” he said, “in the Mao Ni nunnery, outside the western gate; her teacher was a great expert in prophetic divination, but she died in the winter of last year, and her dying words were that as it was not suitable for (Miaoyu) to return to her native place, she should await here, as something in the way of a denouement was certain to turn up; and this is the reason why she hasn’t as yet borne the coffin back to her home!”

“If such be the case,” Madame Wang readily suggested, “why shouldn’t we bring her here?”

“If we are to ask her,” Lin Zhixiao’s wife replied, “she’ll say that a marquis’ family and a duke’s household are sure, in their honorable position, to be overbearing to people; and I had rather not go.”

As she’s the daughter of an official family,” Madame Wang continued, “she’s bound to be inclined to be somewhat proud; but what harm is there to our sending her a written invitation to ask her to come!”

Lin Zhixiao’s wife assented; and leaving the room, she made the secretary write an invitation and then went to ask Miaoyu. The next day servants were despatched, and carriages and sedan chairs were got ready to go and bring her over.

What subsequently transpired is not as yet known, but, reader, listen to the account given in the following chapter.